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Nelson, J.S., 1994

Polypteriformes bichirs

Cladistii

Acipenseriformes 200 M years

Helfman, G., B. Collette and D. Facey, 1997  |  Pough, F., J. Heiser and W. McFarland, 1989

middle Jurassic

Marin

Eau douce

Saumâtre

Rhombic ganoid scales; spiracular, opening large but canal lost; dorsal fin consisting of 5-18 finlets, each with a single spine to which is attached one or more soft rays; pectoral fin rays supported by numerous ossified radials which attach to a cartilaginous plate and two rods, thence to the scapula and coracoid; a pair of gular plates, no branchiostegals; maxilla firmly united to skull; intestine with spiral valve; lungs partially used in respiration; vertebrae with ossified centra and neural canal. Maximum length about 90 cm, most species less than 30 cm.

Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.

Greek, poly = a lot of + Greek, pteron = fin + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).

( n = 1 ) -
Polypteridae

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948]                       

Glossary
                    [ e.g. cephalopods]