Actinopterygii - Classification

Classification

Traditionally, three grades of actinopterygians have been recognised: the Chondrostei, Holostei, and Teleostei. Some morphological evidence suggests the second is paraphyletic and should be abandoned; however, recent work, based on taxon orders, is arranged in what has been suggested to represent the evolutionary sequence down to the level of order, based primarily on the long history of morphological studies. This classification, like any other taxonomy based on phylogenetic research, has been in a state of flux. Recent morphological and molecular data have shown several of these ordinal and higher-level groupings represent evolutionary grades rather than clades. Examples of demonstrably paraphyletic groups include the Paracanthopterygii, Scorpaeniformes, and Perciformes. The listing follows FishBase with notes when this differs from Nelson and ITIS.

  • Subclass Chondrostei
    • Order Polypteriformes, bichirs and reedfishes
    • Order Acipenseriformes, sturgeons and paddlefishes
    • Order Cheirolepidiformes(†)
    • Order Guildayichthyiformes(†)
    • Order Luganoiiformes(†)
    • Order Palaeonisciformes(†)
    • Order Perleidiformes(†)
    • Order Phanerorhynchiformes(†)
    • Order Pholidopleuriformes(†)
    • Order Ptycholepiformes(†)
    • Order Saurichthyiformes(†)
    • Order Tarrasiiformes(†)
  • Subclass Neopterygii
    • Infraclass Holostei
      • Order Lepisosteiformes, gars
      • Order Amiiformes, bowfins
    • Infraclass Teleostei
      • Superorder Osteoglossomorpha
        • Order Osteoglossiformes, bony-tongued fishes
        • Order Hiodontiformes, mooneye and goldeye
      • Superorder Elopomorpha
        • Order Elopiformes, ladyfishes and tarpon
        • Order Albuliformes, bonefishes
        • Order Notacanthiformes, halosaurs and spiny eels
        • Order Anguilliformes, true eels
        • Order Saccopharyngiformes, gulper eel
      • Superorder Clupeomorpha
        • Order Clupeiformes, herrings and anchovies
      • Superorder Ostariophysi
        • Order Gonorynchiformes, milkfishes
        • Order Cypriniformes, barbs, carp, danios, goldfishes, loaches, minnows, rasboras
        • Order Characiformes, characins, pencilfishes, hatchetfishes, piranhas, tetras, dourado / golden (genus Salminus) and pacu
        • Order Gymnotiformes, electric eels and knifefishes
        • Order Siluriformes, catfishes
      • Superorder Protacanthopterygii
        • Order Argentiniformes, barreleyes and slickheads (formerly in Osmeriformes)
        • Order Salmoniformes, salmon and trout
        • Order Esociformes pike
        • Order Osmeriformes, smelts and galaxiids
      • Superorder Stenopterygii (may belong in Protacanthopterygii)
        • Order Ateleopodiformes, jellynose fish
        • Order Stomiiformes, bristlemouths and marine hatchetfishes
      • Superorder Cyclosquamata (may belong in Protacanthopterygii)
        • Order Aulopiformes, Bombay duck and lancetfishes
      • Superorder Scopelomorpha
        • Order Myctophiformes, lanternfishes
      • Superorder Lampridiomorpha
        • Order Lampriformes, oarfish, opah and ribbonfishes
      • Superorder Polymyxiomorpha
        • Order Polymixiiformes, beardfishes
      • Superorder Paracanthopterygii
        • Order Percopsiformes, cavefishes and trout-perches
        • Order Batrachoidiformes, toadfishes
        • Order Lophiiformes, anglerfishes
        • Order Gadiformes, cods
        • Order Ophidiiformes, pearlfishes
      • Superorder Acanthopterygii
        • Order Mugiliformes, mullets
        • Order Atheriniformes, silversides and rainbowfishes
        • Order Beloniformes, flyingfishes
        • Order Cetomimiformes, whalefishes
        • Order Cyprinodontiformes, livebearers, killifishes
        • Order Stephanoberyciformes, ridgeheads
        • Order Beryciformes, fangtooths and pineconefishes
        • Order Zeiformes, dories
        • Order Gobiesociformes, clingfishes
        • Order Gasterosteiformes, sticklebacks
        • Order Syngnathiformes, seahorses and pipefishes
        • Order Synbranchiformes, swamp eels
        • Order Tetraodontiformes, filefishes and pufferfish
        • Order Pleuronectiformes, flatfishes
        • Order Scorpaeniformes, scorpionfishes and the sculpins
        • Order Perciformes, 40% of all fish, including anabantids, centrarchids (including bass and sunfish), cichlids, gobies, gouramis, mackerel, tuna, perches, scats, whiting, wrasses, bettas
  • Incertae sedis
    • Order Peltopleuriformes(†)

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