Class - Actinopterygii

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Infraphylum: Gnathostomata

Parvphylum: Osteichthyes

Class: Actinopterygii

Name derivation: “having ray fins”

Clade: Cladistia

  • Order: Polypteriformes (bichirs, reedfishes)

Clade: Actinopteri

  • Subclass: Chondrostei
    • Order: Acipenseriformes (sturgeons, paddlefishes)
  • Subclass: Neopterygii
    • Infraclass: Holostei
      • Order: Amiiformes (bowfins)
      • Order: Lepisosteiformes (gars)
    • Infraclass: Teleostei
      • Order: Albuliformes (bonefishes)
      • Order: Anguilliformes (true eels)
      • Order: Ateleopodiformes (jellynose fishes)
      • Order: Atheriniformes (silversides)
      • Order: Aulopiformes (lizard fishes)
      • Order: Batrachoidiformes (toadfishes)
      • Order: Beloniformes (flyingfishes, ricefishes)
      • Order: Beryciformes (fangtooths, pineconefishes)
      • Order: Cetomimiformes (whalefishes)
      • Order: Characiformes (characins, hatchetfishes, piranhas, etc.)
      • Order: Clupeiformes (herrings, anchovies)
      • Order: Cypriniformes (bars, carp, loaches, goldfishes, etc.)
      • Order: Cyprinodontiformes (live bearers, killifishes)
      • Order: Elopiformes (ladyfishes, tarpon)
      • Order: Esociformes (pike)
      • Order: Gadiformes (cods)
      • Order: Gasterosteiformes (sticklebacks, etc.)
      • Order: Gobiesociformes (clingfishes)
      • Order: Gonorynchiformes (milkfishes)
      • Order: Gymnotiformes (electric eels, knifefishes)
      • Order: Lampriformes (oarfishes, opah, ribbonfishes)
      • Order: Lophiiformes (anglerfishes)
      • Order: Mugiliformes (mullets)
      • Order: Myctophiformes (lanternfishes)
      • Order: Notacanthiformes (halosaurs, spiny eels)
      • Order: Ophidiiformes (pearlfishes)
      • Order: Osmeriformes (smelts)
      • Order: Osteoglossiformes (bony-tongued fishes)
      • Order: Perciformes (perches)
      • Order: Percopsiformes (cavefishes, trout-perches)
      • Order: Pleuronectiformes (flatfishes)
      • Order: Polymixiiformes (beardfishes)
      • Order: Salmoniformes (salmon, trout)
      • Order: Scorpaeniformes (scorpionfishes, lionfishes)
      • Order: Siluriformes (catfishes)
      • Order: Stephanoberyciformes (ridgeheads)
      • Order: Stomiiformes (dragonfishes, lightfishes, viperfishes)
      • Order: Synbranchiformes (swamp eels)
      • Order: Syngnathiformes (sea horses, pipefishes, cornetfishes, flying gurnards)
      • Order: Tetraodontiformes (pufferfishes, filefishes)
      • Order: Zeiformes (dories)

Number of Families: 488

Number of Genus: 4,908

Number of known Species: 32,513

Earliest Fossil Record: Late Silurian 420 mya

Habitat: Marine, Freshwater

Size Range: 8 mm to 11 m

Notes: Taxonomy based on Eschmeyer's Catalogue of Fishes combined with Catalogue of Life