Osteichthyes (pronounced /ˌɒstiːˈɪkθiːz/), also called bony fish, are a taxonomic group of fish that includes the ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii) and lobe-finned fish (Sarcopterygii).
In most classification systems the Osteichthyes are paraphyletic with land vertebrates. That means that the nearest common ancestor of all Osteichthyes includes tetrapods amongst its descendants. Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) are monophyletic, but the inclusion ...
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Osteichthyes (pronounced /ˌɒstiːˈɪkθiːz/), also called bony fish, are a taxonomic group of fish that includes the ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii) and lobe-finned fish (Sarcopterygii).
In most classification systems the Osteichthyes are paraphyletic with land vertebrates. That means that the nearest common ancestor of all Osteichthyes includes tetrapods amongst its descendants. Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) are monophyletic, but the inclusion of Sarcopterygii in Osteichthyes causes Osteichthyes to be paraphyletic.
Most bony fish belong to the ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii); there are only eight living species of lobe-finned fish (Sarcopterygii), including the lungfish and coelacanths.
They are traditionally treated as a class of vertebrates, with subclasses Actinopterygii and Sarcopterygii, but some newer schemes divide them into several separate classes.
The vast majority of fish are osteichthyes. Osteichthyes are an extremely diverse and abundant group consisting of over 29,000...
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