actinopterygian

[ ak-tuh-nop-tuh-rij-ee-uhn ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the Actinopterygii, a group of bony fishes.

noun

1. an actinopterygian fish.

actinopterygian

/ ăk′tə-nŏp′tə-rĭj′ē-ən /

1. See ray-finned fish

Word History and Origins

Origin of actinopterygian¹

< New Latin Actinopterygi ( i ) (plural) ( actino- actino- + Greek pterýgi ( on ) fin, equivalent to pteryg- (stem of ptéryx wing) + -ion diminutive suffix) + -an

Example Sentences

Major adaptive levels in the evolution of the actinopterygian feeding mechanism.

From Project Gutenberg