The lower actinopterygian fishes are classified using dermal skull roof pattern, in particular the various configurations displayed by the bones on the otic branch of the infraorbital canal (dermosphenotic, intertemporal‐supratemporal/dermopterotic). Where possible these patterns are related to the sequential acquisition of derived features, and the resulting cladogram represents a synthesis of dermal bone pattern and endochondral and dermal skeletal characters. We have proposed 27 terminal groups which we tentatively regard as monophyletic and have concluded that Polypterus is the most primitive living taxon, that the Chondrostei is the sister‐group of Saurichthys and Luganoia the most derived stem‐group neopterygian.
A review of lower actinopterygian phylogeny has led us to the conclusion that the Cladistia are the sister group of Recent actinopterygians (Actinopteri) and that the extinct Palaeonisciformes are a paraphyletic group, comprising stem-group actinopterygians (e.g. Cheirolepis ), stem-group actinopterans (e.g. Moythomasia ) and relatives of higher actinopterans such as Pteronisculus . Our analysis further concluded that the Acipenseriformes formed a clade together with Saurichthys and Birgeria , which was most parsimoniously resolved when the Acipenseriformes and Saurichthys were sister groups.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.