Otocephala

Clupeomorpha is a superorder of ray-finned fish which belongs to the clade Otocephala. Represented today only by the diverse, economically-important order Clupeiformes (containing herrings, anchovies and allies), it was formerly even more diverse, with the extinct order Ellimmichthyiformes also known. Fossil records of this group date back to the Tithonian stage of the Late Jurassic, with the ellimmichthyiform genera Aijaichthys and Ancashichthys.

The Ellimmichthyiformes, also known as double-armored herrings, are an extinct order of ray-finned fish known from the Late Jurassic to the Oligocene. They were the sister group to the extant true herrings, shad and anchovies in the order Clupeiformes, with both orders belonging to the suborder Clupeomorpha. Some studies suggest that the order may be potentially paraphyletic with respect to crown-group Clupeiformes.

Otocephala is a clade of ray-finned fishes within the infraclass Teleostei which evolved some 230 million years ago. It is named for the presence of a hearing (otophysic) link from the swimbladder to the inner ear. Other names proposed for the group include Ostarioclupeomorpha and Otomorpha.