Gnathostomata  Fossil range: Late Ordovician - Recent
Gnathostomata are jawed vertebrates
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Subphylum: Vertebrata   Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Classes
Placodermi Chondrichthyes Acanthodii Actinopterygii Sarcopterygii

Gnathostomata is the group of vertebrates with jaws.

The group is traditionally a superclass, including the familiar classes of fish, birds, and so forth, and a sister group of the jawless vertebrates Agnatha. However, recent genetic studies are causing a reassessment of Gnathostomata as a grouping.

It is assumed the jaws evolved from anterior gill support arches that had acquired a new role, being modified to pump water over the gills by opening and closing the mouth more effectively. The mouth could then grow bigger and wider, making it possible to capture small prey. This close and open mechanism would with time become stronger and tougher, being transformed into real jaws. Modified dermal bones on the surface of the skin would migrate into the mouth and become primtive teeth. Placoderms used sharp bony plates as teeth instead.

Other distinguishing characteristics of living gnathostomates are the myelin sheathes of neurons, and an adaptive immune system.

Taxonomy & Phylogeny

Subphylum Vertebrata
├─(unranked) Gnathostomatomorpha
└─Infraphylum Gnathostomata
      ├─Class Placodermi - extinct (armored gnathostomes)
      └Microphylum Eugnathostomata (true jawed vertebrates)
         ├─Class Chondrichthyes (cartilagenous fish)
         └(unranked) Teleostomi (Acanthodii & Osteichthyes)
             ├─Class Acanthodii - extinct ("spiny sharks")
             └Superclass Osteichthyes (bony fish)
                 ├─Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)
                 └─Class Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish)
                    └Superclass Tetrapoda
                        ├─Class Amphibia (amphibians)
                        └(unranked) Amniota (amniotic egg)
                            ├─Class Sauropsida (reptiles or sauropsids)
                            │           └─Class Aves (birds)
                            └Class Synapsida
                                └─Class Mammalia (mammals)

Note lines show evolutionary relationships.

External links

• Tree of Life discussion of Gnathostomata
• The Gill Arches: Meckel's Cartilage