Question

What does Osteichthyes mean?

Answer 1

Osteichthyes is a taxonomic group of fish that have skeletons composed of bone tissue (instead of cartilage). They are popularly known as bony fish.

Explanation:

Osteichthyes is a diverse group consisting of 45 orders, 435 families and 28,000 species. It is the largest class of vertebrates in existence today.

All bony fish possess gills. They are ectothermic (cold blooded) and heterotrophic. Other features include the presence of a swim bladder providing buoyancy, gill covers ( operculum ) over the gill chamber, bony plate like scales and external fertilisation of eggs.

Their body size ranges from tiny species like the pygmy goby, to the enormous marlins and sword fishes.