Living Fish Clades

Front 1

Back 1

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Placoderm
- Synapomorphies: dermal armor, craniovertebral joint

Front 2

Back 2

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Acanthodii
- Synapomorphies: Dermal spines

Front 3

Back 3

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Chondrichthyes
- LIVING EXAMPLE: Elasmobranchi (sharks and Rays)
- Synapomorphies: calcified cartilage, placoid scales, rectal gland, endolymphatic ducts, pelvic claspers, ampullae of Lorenzini, pectoral fins with 3 basal elements

Front 4

Back 4

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Chondrichthyes
- LIVING EXAMPLE: Holocephali (Ratfish, Chimeras)
- Synapomorphies: calcified cartilage, placoid scales, rectal gland, endolymphatic ducts, pelvic claspers, claspers on head.

Front 5

Back 5

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii (division 1)
- Polypterus
- Synapomorphies: ganoine scales, single dorsal fin, endochondral bone, lung, operculum, multiple fin lets

Front 6

Back 6

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii (Division 1)
- Actinopteri
- Picture Example: Gar
- Synapomorphies: gas bladder, heterocercal tail, notochords persist, no centra

Front 7

Back 7

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii (Division1)
- Chondrostei
- Picture Example: Lake Sturgeon
- Synapomorphies: gas bladder, heterocercal tail, notochords persist, no centra

Front 8

Back 8

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii (Division1)
- LIVING EXAMPLE: Chondrostei (division 1)
- Picture Example: Paddle Fish
- Synapomorphies: enlarged rostrum, loaded with ampullatory receptors.

Front 9

Back 9

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii (Division 1)
- LIVING EXAMPLE: Neoptergii
- Picture Example: Bow Fin
- Synapomorphies: abbreviated heterocercal tail

Front 10

Back 10

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii (Division 1)
- LIVING EXAMPLE: Halecostomi
- Picture Example: Bow Fin "Amia calva"
- Synapomorphies: mobile maxilla, cycloid scales

Front 11

Back 11

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii (Division 1)
- Teleostei
- Osteoglossomorpha
- Picture Example: Elephant fish
- Synapomorphies: homocercal tail, mobile premaxillae, teeth on parasphenoid, and tongue bones

Front 12

Back 12

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Actinopterygii (Division 1)
- Teleostei
- Elopocephala

Front 13

Back 13

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Sarcopterygii (Division 2)
- Teleostei
- Actinistia
- Picture example: Coelocanth
- Synapomorphies: Ossified lung

Front 14

Back 14

- Vertebrata
- Gnathostoma
- Osteichthyes
- Sarcopterygii (Division 2)
- Teleostei
- Choanatae
- Picture example: lung fish
- Synapomorphies: partition in the atrium, nasolacrymal ducts, diphycercal tail, thin scales embedded in the skin