Actinopterygii Phylogeny: Blanked-Out Tree

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering all 27 taxonomic nodes and branches on the blanked-out phylogenetic tree of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii).

Polypteridae

The most basal extant family of ray-finned fishes (bichirs and reedfishes), positioned as the sister group to Actinopteri at the top of the phylogenetic tree.

Acipenseriformes

An order of early-diverging ray-finned fishes (sturgeons and paddlefishes) within Actinopteri, positioned as the sister group to Neopterygii.

Holostei

The neopterygian clade (including gars and bowfins) that represents the sister group to Teleostei.

Elopomorpha

A basal teleost lineage (including tarpons, bonefishes, and true eels) that branches off sister to all other teleosts.

Osteoglossomorpha

A basal teleost lineage (bony-tongued fishes and relatives) branching off after Elopomorpha and sister to Clupeocephala.

Lepidogalaxias salamandroides

The salamanderfish lineage, positioned on the phylogenetic tree between the ostariophysan radiation and Argentiniformes.

Esocidae

The pike and mudminnow family lineage, branching within Euteleostei adjacent to Argentiniformes and Salmoniformes.

Salmonidae

The salmon, trout, and whitefish family lineage, positioned on the tree within Salmoniformes adjacent to Esocidae.

Gobiiformes

An order of percomorph fishes (gobies and sleepers) situated within the percomorph radiation near Blenniiformes.

Perciformes

A prominent order of percomorph fishes positioned in the crown percomorph radiation near Centrarchiformes.

Acanthuriformes

An order of marine percomorph fishes (surgeonfishes, tangs, and allies) located at the terminal crown branch of the tree.

Oseanacephala

The teleost clade node on the tree uniting the euteleost lineages sister to Otocephala.

Otocephala

A major teleost clade comprising Clupeiformes (herrings and anchovies) and Ostariophysi.

Ostariophysi

A major clade of primarily freshwater teleosts within Otocephala, encompassing Gonorynchiformes, Cypriniformes, Gymnotiformes, Siluriformes, and Characiformes.

Otophysi

The ostariophysan clade characterized by the presence of a Weberian apparatus, uniting Cypriniformes, Gymnotiformes, Siluriformes, and Characiformes.

Salmoniformes

An order of euteleosts containing salmons and trouts, situated adjacent to Argentiniformes and Esocidae.

Parcanthopterygii

An acanthomorph lineage on the tree comprising Percopsiformes, Zeiformes, and Gadiformes (cods and relatives).

Eupercaria

A crown percomorph group uniting Centrarchiformes, Labriformes, and Acropomatiformes near the base of the terminal radiation.

Actinopterygii

The total clade of ray-finned fishes, located at the root node of the phylogenetic tree.

Neopterygii

The major actinopterygian clade defined by the most recent common ancestor of Holostei and Teleostei.

Teleostei

The crown group of neopterygians, uniting Elopomorpha, Osteoglossomorpha, and Clupeocephala.

Clupeocephala

The vast teleost clade defined by the split between Otocephala and Euteleostei.

Euteleostei

The advanced teleost clade sister to Otocephala, encompassing protacanthopterygians, stomiatiforms, and neoteleosts.

Neoteleostei

The clade of euteleosts defined as sister to Stomiatii/Galaxiidae, giving rise to Aulopiformes, Myctophiformes, and Acanthomorpha.

Acanthomorpha

The spiny-rayed teleost clade encompassing Lampriformes, Parcanthopterygii, and Acanthopterygii.

Acanthopterygii

The dominant clade of spiny-finned fishes within Acanthomorpha/Ctenosquamata, giving rise to Beryciformes and Percomorpha.

Percomorpha

The diverse crown radiation of acanthopterygian fishes, branching sister to Beryciformes and Trachichthyiformes.