A review of the lower actinopterygian phylogeny

A review of lower actinopterygian phylogeny has led us to the conclusion that the Cladistia are the sister group of Recent actinopterygians (Actinopteri) and that the extinct Palaeonisciformes are a paraphyletic group, comprising stem-group actinopterygians (e.g. Cheirolepis), stem-group actinopterans (e.g. Moythomasia) and relatives of higher actinopterans such as Pteronisculus. Our analysis further concluded that the Acipenseriformes formed a clade together with Saurichthys and Birgeria, which was most parsimoniously resolved when the Acipenseriformes and Saurichthys were sister groups. (C) 2005 The Linnean Society of London