Relating to or characteristic of ray-finned fishes, particularly their fin structures and evolutionary characteristics.
From actino- (ray) + pteran (wing, fin, from Greek pteron). Describes the fundamental structure of the most successful fish group.
Ray-finned fish—actinopterans—make up 99% of all fish species living today because their flexible, articulated fins gave them incredible maneuverability that ancient armored fish couldn't match.
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