Interrelationships of lower actinopterygian fishes

Abstract

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.