Class Actinopterygii (Bony Fish)


Order Acipenseriformes Sturgeons & Paddlefish	Order Albuliformes Bone Fish & Spiny Eels
Order Amiiformes Bowfin	Order Anguilliformes True Eels
Order Ateleopodiformes Jellynose Fish	Order Atheriniformes Silversides
Order Aulopiformes Aulopus & Telescopefishes	Order Batrachoidiformes Toadfish
Order Beloniformes Flyingfish & Needlefish	Order Beryciformes Flashlight Fish & Squirrelfish
Order Ceratodontiformes Lungfishes	Order Characiformes Characins & Trahiras
Order Clupeiformes Anchovies & Herring	Order Cypriniformes Carp, Loaches & Suckers
Order Cyprinodontiformes Killifish & Pupfish	Order Elopiformes Ladyfish & Tarpon
Order Esociformes Pike	Order Gadiformes Cod & Hakes
Order Gasterosteiformes Seahorses & Sticklebacks	Order Gonorhynchiformes Milkfish & Mudheads
Order Gymnotiformes Knifefishes	Order Lampriformes Opahs & Ribbonfish
Order Lepidosireniformes South American & African Lungfish	Order Lophiiformes Anglerfish
Order Mugiliformes Mullet	Order Myctophiformes Lanternfishes
Order Ophidiiformes Carapids & Brotulas	Order Osmeriformes Noodlefishes & Smelt
Order Osteoglossiformes Arapaima & Bonytongues	Order Perciformes Perches, Butterflyfish, Cichlids & Tunas
Order Percopsiformes Perch & Cavefish	Order Pleuronectiformes Flounders
Order Polymixiiformes Beardfish	Order Polypteriformes Bichirs
Order Saccopharyngiformes Swallowers & Pelican Eels	Order Salmoniformes Salmon
Order Scorpaeniformes Scorpionfish & Sculpins	Order Semionotiformes Gars
Order Siluriformes Catfishes	Order Stephanoberyciformes Whalefish
Order Stomiiformes Bristlemouths & Lightfish	Order Synbranchiformes Spiny Eels
Order Tetraodontiformes Molas, Puffers & Triggerfish	Order Zeiformes Dories & Oreos

The Class Actinopterygii, or ray-finned fishes, is the largest class of vertebrates, encompassing over 30,000 species. They are characterized by fins supported by bony rays rather than fleshy lobes, a swim bladder for buoyancy, and gills for respiration. Actinopterygii inhabit nearly all aquatic environments, from freshwater rivers and lakes to oceans. They display diverse feeding strategies and body forms, making them ecologically and economically important as predators, prey, and sources of food for humans.