Actinopterygii

This group includes the ray-finned fish, the dominant group of vertebrates, ubiquitous throughout freshwater and marine environments. Traditionally the Actinopterygii have been divided into three grades: the Chondrostei, Holostei, and Teleostei, but the middle group has kind of gone out of style. I don't feel like putting any details right now - a good classification was hard enough to sort out. The groups below, down to the superorder level, are arranged in what is believed to be the evolutionary sequence.

• Chondrostei
  • Order Polypteriformes? (bichirs)
  • Order Acipenseriformes? (sturgeons, paddlefish)
• Order Semionotiformes? (gars)
• Order Amiiformes? (bowfins)
• Teleostei
  • Osteoglossomorpha
    • Order Osteoglossiformes? (bony tongues, etc)
    • Order Hiodontiformes? (mooneye, etc)
  • Elopomorpha
    • Order Elopiformes? (tarpons, etc)
    • Order Albuliformes? (bonefishes)
    • Order Notacanthiformes? (spiny eels)
    • Order Anguilliformes? (true eels, gulpers)
  • Clupeomorpha - order Clupeiformes? (herrings & allies)
  • Ostariophysi
    • Order Gonorhynchiformes?
    • Order Cypriniformes (minnows & allies)
    • Order Characiformes? (characins & allies)
    • Order Gymnotiformes? (electric eels, knifefishes)
    • Order Siluriformes? (catfishes)
  • Protacanthopterygii
    • Order Salmoniformes? (salmon & allies)
    • Order Esociformes? (pikes & allies)
  • Sternopterygii
    • Order Ateleopodiformes? (jellynosed fishes)
    • Order Stomiiformes? (dragonfishes & allies)
  • Cyclosquamata - order Aulopiformes? (lizardfishes)
  • Scopelomorpha - order Myctophiformes? (lanternfishes)
  • Lampridiomorpha - order Lampridiformes? (opahs, etc)
  • Polymyxiomorpha - order Polymyxiformes? (beardfishes)
  • Paracanthopterygii
    • Order Percopsiformes (trout-perches & allies)
    • Order Batrachoidiformes? (toadfishes)
    • Order Lophiiformes? (goosefishes, etc)
    • Order Gadiformes? (cods & allies)
    • Order Ophidiiformes? (cusk eels, etc)
  • Acanthopterygii
    • Order Mugiliformes? (mullets & allies)
    • Order Atheriniformes? (silversides & allies)
    • Order Beloniformes? (needlefishes, etc)
    • Order Cyprinodontiformes? (killifishes, etc)
    • Order Stephanoberyciformes? (pricklefishes, whalefishes, etc)
    • Order Beryciformes? (alfonsinos, etc)
    • Order Zeiformes? (dories, etc)
    • Order Gasterosteiformes? (sticklebacks, pipefishes & allies)
    • Order Synbranchiformes? (swamp-eels, etc)
    • Order Tetraodontiformes (triggerfishes & allies)
    • Order Perciformes (perches, scorpionfishes, flatfishes & many allies)