List of Ray-finned (Actinopterygian) Fish genera and families that survived the Permian-Triassic Extinction Event 252 Million Years ago

June 8, 2023

The Actinopterygian fish (also called ray-fined fish) are the third major group of jawed fish (alongside the Sarcopterygians and Chondrichthyans) that emerged during the Early-Late Silurian 439-425 Million Years ago. The Ray-finned fish were at first not as abundant as the Sarcopterygians, but gradually increased in diversity during the Carboniferous and Permian periods. The Actinopterygians at this time even managed to colonize freshwater habitats. But the group did lose some diversity during Permian-Triassic Extinction Event 252 Million Years ago, though not as much as the Sarcopterygian fish.

But thankfully a decent amount of Actinopterygii survived and all living Actinopterygian fish (today one of the most diverse groups of fish currently on Earth) can trace their origins to these few hardy survivors. Here's a list of all currently known Actinopterygian fish genera and families that survived the Permian-Triassic Extinction Event. If I forget any examples, please let me know and I'll add the examples to the list promptly.

Actinopterygii

Semionotiformes

Acentrophorus (Semionotiform) (Late Permian-Early Triassic, 268-242 Million Years ago)

http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=35134

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230110387_The_Permian_Fishes_of_the_Genus_Acentrophorus

https://www.nature.com/articles/042366a0

Palaeonisciformes

Pygopterus (Palaeonisciform) (Late Permian-Late Triassic, 259-201 Million Years ago)

http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=149731

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263086548_A_first_record_of_late_Middle_Permian_actinopterygian_fish_from_Anatolia_Turkey

https://cpb-eu-w2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.bristol.ac.uk/dist/1/555/files/2021/02/2019Jurong.pdf

Atherstonia (Palaeonisciform) (Late Permian-Early Triassic, 259-251 Million Years ago)