Editing Cetomimoidea (section)

== Taxonomy ==
Some recent phylogenetic studies suggest that the whalefishes are paraphyletic with respect to other members of the suborder, with ''[[Barbourisia]]'' belonging to the [[Stephanoberycidae]] while [[Rondeletiidae]] includes ''[[Hispidoberyx]]''. Although previously thought to have ancient origins due to their unique morphological characteristics, phylogenetic studies suggest a [[Paleogene]] origin for the group.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brownstein |first=Chase D |last2=Dornburg |first2=Alex |last3=Near |first3=Thomas J |date=2025-03-04 |title=Cenozoic evolutionary history obscures the Mesozoic origins of acanthopterygian fishes |url=https://academic.oup.com/evolut/advance-article/doi/10.1093/evolut/qpaf040/8051721 |journal=Evolution |language=en |doi=10.1093/evolut/qpaf040 |issn=0014-3820}}</ref>

Potentially the earliest fossil record of the group is of a ''[[Redmouth whalefish|Rondeletia]]''-like whalefish from the earliest Eocene-aged [[Fur Formation]] of Denmark.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bonde |first=Niels |date=2008 |title=Osteoglossomorphs of the marine Lower Eocene of Denmark – with remarks on other Eocene taxa and their importance for palaeobiogeography |url=https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.1144/SP295.14 |journal=Geological Society, London, Special Publications |language=en |volume=295 |issue=1 |pages=253–310 |doi=10.1144/SP295.14 |issn=0305-8719|url-access=subscription }}</ref>