Teleostei
Sign in to saveTeleostei (; ), members of which are known as teleosts (), is, by far, the largest group of ray-finned fishes (class Actinopterygii), with 96% of all extant species of fish. The Teleostei, which is variously considered a division or an infraclass in different taxonomic systems, include over 26,000 species that are arranged in about 40 orders and 448 families. Teleosts range from giant oarfish measuring or more, and ocean sunfish weighing over , to the minute male anglerfish Photocorynus spiniceps, just long. Including not only torpedo-shaped fish built for speed, teleosts can be flattened vert
AI overview
Teleosts are by far the largest group of ray-finned fishes, making up 96% of all fish species alive today, with over 26,000 species ranging from tiny anglerfish to giant oarfish. They matter because understanding this enormous and diverse group is essential to understanding fish biology and the structure of aquatic ecosystems worldwide.
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Article
31 sectionsContents
- Anatomy
- Evolution and phylogeny
- External relationships
- Internal relationships
- Evolutionary trends
- Diversity
- Distribution
- Physiology
- Respiration
- Sensory systems
- Osmoregulation
- Thermoregulation
- Buoyancy
- Locomotion
- Sound production
- Reproduction and lifecycle
- Sex identity and determination
- Hermaphroditism
- Mating tactics
- Spawning sites and parental care
- Growth and development
- Shoaling and schooling
- Relationship with humans
- Economic importance
- Impact on stocks
- Other interactions
- In art
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Teleostei (; ), members of which are known as teleosts (), is, by far, the largest group of ray-finned fishes (class Actinopterygii), with 96% of all extant species of fish. The Teleostei, which is variously considered a division or an infraclass in different taxonomic systems, include over 26,000 species that are arranged in about 40 orders and 448 families. Teleosts range from giant oarfish measuring or more, and ocean sunfish weighing over , to the minute male anglerfish Photocorynus spiniceps, just long. Including not only torpedo-shaped fish built for speed, teleosts can be flattened vertically or horizontally, be elongated cylinders or take specialised shapes as in anglerfish and seahorses.
The difference between teleosts and other bony fish lies mainly in their jaw bones; teleosts have a movable premaxilla and corresponding modifications in the jaw musculature which make it possible for them to protrude their jaws outwards from the mouth. This is of great advantage, enabling them to grab prey and draw it into the mouth. In more derived teleosts, the enlarged premaxilla is the main tooth-bearing bone, and the maxilla, which is attached to the lower jaw, acts as a lever, pushing and pulling the premaxilla as the mouth is opened and closed. Other bones further back in the mouth serve to grind and swallow food. Another difference is that the upper and lower lobes of the tail (caudal) fin are about equal in size. The spine ends at the caudal peduncle, distinguishing this group from other fish in which the spine extends into the upper lobe of the tail fin.