Actinopterygii
- proper noun
- /ˌæktɪnəˈpɛrɪdʒiˌaɪ/
- Specialized
- The Actinopterygii include the vast majority of fishes, particularly those species that humans are most likely to encounter.
Examples
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When most people think of fish, they are most likely thinking of ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii), which are derived from a single ancestral lineage that began more than 400 million years ago (figure 1).
Academic text (2010) -
The Actinopterygii are characterized by their bony structures and include species such as salmon and trout.
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Many popular aquarium fish belong to the class Actinopterygii, making it an important group for both ecology and hobbyists.
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Scientists study the Actinopterygii to understand the evolution and diversity of modern fish.
Synonyms
A large group of fish with bones that includes most living fish
Surface Forms
Etymology
Actinopterygii comes from Greek parts actino- ('ray') and -pterygii ('fin' or 'wing'), the same 'pter-' you see in pterodactyl meaning 'wing', so it literally means 'ray-finned'. That's why the name is used for the large group of fishes with thin bony 'rays' in their fins, like salmon and goldfish.