Bony fish
Atlantic herring
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Infraphylum: Gnathostomata Superclass: Osteichthyes Huxley, 1880
classes
Actinopterygii Sarcopterygii Photo by Uwe Kils. ... Binomial name Clupea harengus Linnaeus, 1758 Atlantic herring Clupea harengus is the one of the most abundant species of fish on the planet. ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Classes Placodermi Chondrichthyes Acanthodii Osteichthyes Gnathostomata is the group of vertebrates with jaws. ... Thomas Henry Huxley PC, FRS (4 May 1825 Ealing – 29 June 1895 Eastbourne, Sussex) was an English biologist, known as Darwins Bulldog for his advocacy of Charles Darwins theory of evolution. ... Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ... Subclasses Coelacanthimorpha - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Tetrapoda Sarcopterygii is traditionally the class of lobe-finned fishes, consisting of lungfish and coelacanths. ...

Osteichthyes (IPA: /ˌɒstiːˈɪkθiːz/), also called bony fish, are a taxonomic Class of fish that includes the ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii) and lobe finned fish (Sarcopterygii). The split between these two classes occurred around 440 mya.^[1] For the science of classifying living things, see alpha taxonomy. ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ... Subclasses Coelacanthimorpha - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Tetrapoda Sarcopterygii is traditionally the class of lobe-finned fishes, consisting of lungfish and coelacanths. ... For other uses of mya, see mya (disambiguation). ...

In most classification systems^[2] 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. Paraphyletic - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Typical classes Petromyzontidae (lampreys) Placodermi - extinct Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) Acanthodii - extinct Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) Actinistia (coelacanths) Dipnoi (lungfish) Amphibia (amphibians) Reptilia (reptiles) Aves (birds) Mammalia (mammals) Vertebrata is a subphylum of chordates, specifically, those with backbones or spinal columns. ... Groups See text. ... Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ... Subclasses Coelacanthimorpha - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Tetrapoda Sarcopterygii is traditionally the class of lobe-finned fishes, consisting of lungfish and coelacanths. ...

Most bony-fish belong to the Actinopterygii; there are only eight living species of lobe finned fish (Sarcopterygii) including the lungfish and coelacanths.(Some species of lobe-finned fish have jointed bones.) For the band, see Lungfish (band). ... Families See text. ...

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 the most various group of vertebrates, consisting of over 29,000 species, making them the largest class of vertebrates in existence today.

Characteristics

Osteichthyans are characterized by a relatively stable pattern of cranial bones, rooted, medial insertion of mandibular muscle in lower jaw. The head and pectoral girdles are covered with large dermal bones. The eyeball is supported by a sclerotic ring of four small bones, but this characteristic has been lost or modified in many modern species. The labyrinth in the inner ear contains large otoliths. The braincase, or neurocranium, is frequently divided into anterior and posterior sections divided by fissure. Osteichthyans have a lung or swim bladder. They do not have fin spines, but instead support the fin with lepidotrichia (bone fin rays). They also have an operculum, which helps them breathe without having to swim. They also have a swim bladder which helps the body create a neutral balance between sinking and floating. They also are able to see in color, unlike most other fish. A Hippopotamuss skull A skull, or cranium, is a bony structure of vertebrates which serves as the general framework for a head. ... The mandible (from Latin mandibÅ­la, jawbone) or inferior maxillary bone is, together with the maxilla, the largest and strongest bone of the face. ... The pectoral girdle is the set of bones which connect the upper limb to the axial skeleton on each side. ... For other uses, see Eye (disambiguation). ... Inner ear The inner ear is the bony labyrinth, a system of passages comprising two main functional parts: the organ of hearing, or cochlea and the vestibular apparatus, the organ of balance that consists of three semicircular canals and the vestibule. ... An otolith, (oto-, ear + lithos, a stone), also called statoconium[1] or otoconium is a structure in the saccule or utricle of the inner ear, specifically in the vestibular labyrinth. ... In zootomy, several terms are used to describe the location of organs and other structures in the body of bilateral animals. ... The English word POSTERIOR is identical to the original Latin adjective, and has two different uses : as an ADJECTIVE, it indicates that someone or something is behind another, either spatially or chronologically it also became a SUBSTANTIVE, indicating the rear-end, especially of a person, i. ... Fissure (Latin fissura, Plural fissurae) is a groove, natural division, deep furrow, or cleft found in the brain, spinal cord, and liver; or a tear in the anus. ... For the village in Tibet, see Lung, Tibet. ... The gas bladder (also fish maw, less accurately swim bladder or air bladder) is an internal organ that contributes to the ability of a fish to control its buoyancy, and thus to stay at the current water depth, ascend, or descend without having to waste energy in swimming. ... The operculum in fish is the hard bony flap covering and protecting the gills of Bony fish. ... The gas bladder (also fish maw, less accurately swim bladder or air bladder) is an internal organ that contributes to the ability of a fish to control its buoyancy, and thus to stay at the current water depth, ascend, or descend without having to waste energy in swimming. ...

Replacement bone

One of the best-known innovations of the osteichthyans is endochondral bone or "replacement" bone, which is bone ossified internally, by replacement of cartilage, as well as perichondrally, as "spongy bone." In vertebrates, in general, there are various types of calcified tissue: dentine, enamel (or "enameloids") and bone, plus variants characterized by their ontogeny, chemistry, form and location. But endochondral bone is unique because it begins life as cartilage. Section of fetal bone of cat. ... Cartilage is a type of dense connective tissue. ... Dentin (BE: dentine) is the name of substance between the enamel (crown) or cementum (root) of a tooth and the pulp chamber. ... Tooth enamel is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance of the body,[1] and with dentin, cementum, and dental pulp is one of the four major tissues which make up the tooth. ... This article is about the skeletal organs. ...

In lower vertebrates, cartilaginous structures can become superficially calcified. However, in osteichthyans, the circulatory system invades the cartilaginous matrix. This permits the local osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) to continue bone formation within the cartilage and also recruits additional, circulating osteoblasts. Other cells gradually eat away at the surrounding cartilage. The net result is that the cartilage is replaced from within by a somewhat irregular vascularized network of bone. Structurally, the effect is to create a relatively lightweight, flexible, "spongy" bone interior, surrounded by an outline of dense, lamellar periostial bone. Since this bone now surrounds other bone, rather than cartilage, it is referred to as periostial rather than perichondral. This is the unique endochondral bone from which the osteichthians derived their name, as well as many structural advantages. However useful endochondral bone may be, it is also much heavier and less flexible than cartilage. Thus, many modern osteichthyan groups, including the extremely successful teleosts, have evolved away from extensive use of endochondral bone. An osteoblast (from the Greek words for bone and to build) is a mononucleate cell that produces a protein that produces osteoid. ... Orders See text The Actinopterygii are the ray-finned fish. ...

Respiratory system

Bony fish breathe through their gills with the help of their operculum, a hard plate that allows osteichthyes to breathe without moving. This means energy does not have to be wasted swimming.However, lungfish can breathe through a single lung when the pools they swim in dry out. These fish are equipped with both lungs and gills. Lungfish are sarcopterygii. Bony fish are cold blooded. Subclasses Coelacanthimorpha - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Tetrapoda Sarcopterygii is traditionally the class of lobe-finned fishes, consisting of lungfish and coelacanths. ...

Metabolism

Osteichthyes are ectothermic (cold blooded), meaning they don't have to eat as much and that their temperature is dependent on the water's. They can be any type of heterotroph: omnivore, carnivore, herbivore, or detrivore. Most species have a stomach. Cold-blooded organisms, more technically known as poikilothermic, are animals that have no internal metabolic mechanism for regulating their body temperatures. ... Flowchart to determine if a species is autotroph, heterotroph, or a subtype A heterotroph (Greek heterone = (an)other and trophe = nutrition) is an organism that requires organic substrates to get its carbon for growth and development. ... Crows are omnivores. ... Carnivorism redirects here. ... A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage A herbivore is often defined as any organism that eats only plants[1]. By that definition, many fungi, some bacteria, many animals, about 1% of flowering plants and some protists can be considered herbivores. ... Detritivores (also detrivores or detritus feeders) are animals that recycle detritus (decomposing organic material), returning it into the food chain. ...

Body covering

No placoid scales. Mucous glands coat the body. Most have scales of sort: ganoid, cycloid, or cytenoid. These scales are smooth and overlapping.

Appendages

All osteichthyes have paired fins along with two eyes, nostrils, a mouth and an operculum.

Skeleton

The skeleton is made of bone and cartilage. The skeleton is almost completely calcified. The vertebral column, cranim, jaw, ribs, and intramuscular bones make up the skeleton.

Reproduction

Osteichthyes can be hermaphrodites. Fertilization is usually external, but can be internal. Development is usually oviparous but can be ovoviviparous, or viviparous. Although there is usually no parental care after birth, before birth parents may scatter, hide, guard or brood eggs.

Examples

The ocean sunfish is the most massive bony fish in the world (but not the longest one; that honor goes to the oarfish). Specimens of ocean sunfish have been observed up to 3.33 m (11 ft) in length and weighing up to 2,300 kg (5,070 lb). Other very large bony fish include the Atlantic blue marlin, some specimens of which have been recorded as in excess of 820 kilograms (1,807.4 lb.), the black marlin, some sturgeon species, the giant grouper and the goliath grouper, both which can exceed 400 kg (880 lb) in weight. In contrast, the dwarf pygmy goby measures a minute 1.5 cm. Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) The ocean sunfish, Mola mola, or common mola, is the heaviest known bony fish in the world. ... Genera Agrostichthys Regalecus Oarfish are large, greatly elongated, pelagic Lampriform fish comprising the small family Regalecidae. ... Binomial name Makaira nigricans Lacépède, 1802 The Atlantic Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) is a species of marlin. ... Binomial name Cuvier, 1832 The black marlin (Makaira indica) is a species of marlin found in tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific oceans not far from the surface. ... For other uses, see Sturgeon (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Epinephelus lanceolatus Bloch, 1790 The Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) is also known as the Brindle Bass and as the Queensland Grouper in Australia. ... Binomial name Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822) The goliath grouper or itajara (Epinephelus itajara) is a large saltwater fish of the grouper family. ... Binomial name Herre, 1927 Synonyms Pondoka pygmaea The dwarf pygmy goby (pandaka pygmaea) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Gobiidae. ...

The Arapaima gigas is the largest species of freshwater bony fish. Binomial name Arapaima gigas (Cuvier, 1829) Arapaima showing its full length. ...

The largest fish ever was leedsichthys, which is a gigantic bony fish. For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... Leedsichthys Problematicus was a giant pachycormid (an extinct group of bony fish) that lived in the oceans of the late Jurassic period, 165-155 million years ago. ...

See also

• Ostracoderm - armoured jawless fishes.
• Acanthodians - relatives of the bony fishes

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Orders Climatiiformes Ischnacanthiformes Acanthodiformes Acanthodii (sometimes called spiny sharks) is a class of extinct fishes, having features of both bony fish (Osteichthyes) and cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes). ...

References