Aspects of this topic are discussed in the following places at Britannica.
The Paracanthopterygii comprises six orders: Batrachoidiformes, or toadfishes, about 45 species; Gadiformes, or codfishes, about 800 species; Gobiesociformes, or clingfishes, about 100 species; Lophiiformes, or anglerfishes, about 210 species; Percopsiformes, or trout-perches, about eight species;...
Order Gadiformes
Lower Eocene to Recent. Early gadiforms were similar in structure to early percopsiforms, but almost all remained marine and subsequently specialized into a variety...
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