Actinopteri
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Actinopterygii > Actinopteri
Actinopteri are related to
sturgeon. Dating back to the
Permian period, the Actinopteri are comprised of the
Chondrostei (sturgeons and paddlefishes) and the Neopterygi (bowfin, gars, and teleosts). Modern actinopterygians generally feed using a suction mechanism, with the mouth parts forming a tube. Prey are drawn in, and then masticated for consumption. The
Actinopterygii are the "ray-finned" fishes. The Actinopter group consists of the descendants of the most recent common ancestor of the sturgeons and teleoststains, and includes: