Gnathostomata
For the echinoderm, see Gnathostomata (echinoid)
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Gnathostomata is the group of vertebrates with jaws.
The group is traditionally a superclass, including the familiar classes of fish, birds, and so forth, and a sister group of the jawless vertebrates Agnatha. However, recent genetic studies are causing a reassessment of Gnathostomata as a grouping.
Other distinguishing characteristics of living gnathostomates are the myelin sheathes of neurons, and an adaptive immune system.
For the phylogenetic tree of Gnathostomata see chordate. The traditional classes of Gnathostomata include:
- Placodermi - extinct
- Chondrichthyes (cartilagenous fish)
- Acanthodii - extinct
- Osteichthyes (or Teleostomi) (bony fish)
- subclass Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish)
- subclass Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)
- Amphibia (amphibians)
- Reptilia (reptiles)
- Aves (birds)
- Mammalia (mammals)