Esocoidei

a suborder of bony fishes of the order Salmoniformes. The soft fin rays have no barbs. The adipose fin is absent, and the dorsal and anal fins are usually located on the rear third of the body. The teeth are located on the premaxillary and palatine bones, on the dentry and vomer, and at the base of the gill and hyoid apparatus. The swim bladder is connected to the intestine. The scales are cycloid. The Esocoidei are predatory fish; some are omnivorous. They are distributed in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, usually in freshwaters. Fossils have been found in late Paleocene and in Eocene deposits. The suborder comprises three families: Esocidae, with the single genus Esox (pikes); Umbridae (mudminnows); and Dallidae (blackfish).