Class Osteichthyes: The class Osteichthyes includes a large assemblage of true bony fishes. There are well over 30,000 to 40,000 living species, both freshwater and marine.

Characteristics of Class Osteichthyes

Osteichthyes is a class of jawed fishes having a bony endoskeleton. It is the largest class of vertebrates and includes a diverse group of marine and freshwater bony fishes.

• It includes both marine and fresh water fishes with bony endoskeleton.
• Their body is streamlined. Mouth is mostly terminal.
• They have four pairs of gills which are covered by an operculum on each side.
• Skin is covered with cycloid/ctenoid scales.
• Air bladder is present which regulates buoyancy.
• Heart is two- chambered (one auricle and one ventricle).
• They are cold-blooded
• Sexes are separate.
• Fertilisation is usually external.
• They are mostly oviparous and development is direct.
• Examples: Flying fish, Sea horse, Fighting fish, Angel fish etc.

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By Team Learning Mantras