Ray-finned Fish

Ray-finned fish, also called ray-finned fishes or actinopterygians, are bony fish in the class Actinopterygii.

The ray-finned fish are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or horny spines ("rays"), as opposed to the fleshy, lobed fins that characterize the class Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish). These actinopterygian fin rays attach directly to the proximal or basal skeletal elements, the radials, which represent the link or connection between these fins and the internal skeleton (e.g., pelvic and pectoral girdles).

Numerically, actinopterygians are the dominant class of vertebrates, comprising nearly 99% of the over 30,000 species of fish.  They are ubiquitous throughout freshwater and marine environments from the deep sea to the highest mountain streams. Extant species can range in size from Paedocypris at 8 mm (0.3 in), to the massive ocean sunfish (Mola mola) at 2,300 kg (5,070 lb), and the long-bodied giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne) at 11 m (36 ft).

This category contains all Ray-finned Fish that have appeared on Wild Kratts.