Phylogenetic classification of living and fossil ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Classification of the tremendous diversity of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) began with the designation of taxonomic groups based on morphological similarity. Starting in the late 1960s morphological phylogenetics became the basis for the classification of Actinopterygii but failed to resolve many relationships, particularly among lineages within the hyperdiverse Percomorpha. The introduction of molecular phylogenetics led to a dramatic reconfiguration of actinopterygian phylogeny. Refined phylogenetic resolution afforded by molecular studies revealed an uneven diversity among actinopterygian lineages, resulting in a proliferation of redundant group names in Linnean-ranked classifications. Here we provide an unranked phylogenetic classification for actinopterygian fishes based on a summary phylogeny of 830 lineages of ray-finned fishes that includes all currently recognized actinopterygian taxonomic families and 287 fossil taxa. We provide phylogenetic definitions for 90 clade names..., This is a phylogenetic tree constructed from hypotheses resulting from analyses of morphological and genetic character data as reported in the literature. , , # Phylogenetic classification of living and fossil ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

\"Actinopterygii\_Near\_and\_Thacker\_2023.phy\" file containing a phylogenetic tree in Phylip/Newick format. Can be opened using any available tree reading software, e.g., FigTree.