Search over 1.4 million articles by over 600 experts
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Animals / Wildlife

More from About.com

Browse Topics A-Z

Ray-Finned Fishes

The ray-finned fishes (Class Actinopterygii) appeared on earth during the late Silurian period, 405 million years ago. ray-finned fishes have, as their name indicates, at least some bone in there skeletal system, lungs or swim bladders, and scales.
Ray-Finned Fishes (Class Actinopterygii)
Ray-Finned fishes or 'actinopterygiians' (Class Actinopterygii) are an extremely diverse group of aquatic vertebrates—over half of all living vertebrate species (aquatic and terrestrial) belong to this class.
Firefish (Pterois volitans)
The firefish (Pterois volitans), also known as the lionfish, was first described in 1758 by Dutch naturalist Johan Frederick Gronovius.
Cichlids (Family Cichldae)
Cichlids (Family Cichldae) are a highly diverse family of bony fishes (Class Osteichthyes). Their body shapes vary from species to species and include oblong (perch-like), tubular, elongated, or round (disk-like) body shapes.
  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Animals / Wildlife
  4. Animal Profiles
  5. Fishes
  6. Ray-Finned Fishes

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.