Overview
Class ACTINOPTERYGII – Ray-finned fishes
Division Teleostei - Recent bony fishes
The Teleostei is a highly corroborated monophyletic group with at least 27 known synapomorphies from various anatomical systems. There is a rich fossil record starting in the middle or late Triassic.
Teleosts are the most species rich and diversified group of all the vertebrates, with about 25,000 species worldwide (about 96% of all extant fishes), belonging to 38 orders, 426 families and over 4,000 genera.
Similarly, in New Zealand teleosts comprise about 90% of the known fishes, with about 1065 species belonging to 29 orders, 185 families and 592 genera.
Taxonomic problems and difficulties with accurate identification occur throughout the New Zealand Teleostei, and this lack of knowledge impacts on research, management and conservation of the fauna. Species of bony fishes new to science and new to New Zealand continue to be discovered by Te Papa scientists and colleagues at a remarkably high rate (ca. 1 every 3-4 weeks), which far outstrips the rate of scientific description. Over 17% (190 species) of teleosts are endemic to some part of the New Zealand region, and over 13% (ca. 143 species) are scientifically unnamed or inaccurately identified.