Holostean

holostean, (infraclass Holostei), any member of a group of primitive bony fishes that make up one of the three major subdivisions of the superclass Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes). Holosteans are represented today by the bowfins (order Amiiformes) of North America and the gars (order Semionotiformes) of North and Central America and Cuba. Holosteans diverged from their chondrostean ancestors in the order Palaeonisciformes during the Permian Period and were particularly abundant in the Mesozoic Era (251–65.5 million years ago); however, only three living genera remain. The genus Amia contains the single remaining species of bowfin, and the genera Lepisosteus and Atractosteus contain the seven living species of gars. The extinct order Pycnodontiformes is often associated with the holosteans. There is disagreement as to whether infraclass Holosei should be recognized as a natural taxonomic entity, since many authorities believe that bowfins, gars, and their fossil relatives did not descend from a common ancestor.