To which Class do ray-finned fishes like Perca flavescens belong?
Answer
Actinopterygii
The Yellow Perch, Perca flavescens, is classified under the Class Actinopterygii. This classification specifically denotes ray-finned fishes, which constitute the largest and most diverse group of vertebrates currently extant. The defining characteristic of this class is that their fins are supported by bony spines, often referred to as rays. This anatomical feature distinguishes them from lobe-finned fishes, such as those belonging to the Sarcopterygii class, which have fleshy, stout appendages. The broad inclusion within Actinopterygii highlights the evolutionary success and sheer diversity of bony fishes in modern aquatic environments.

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To which Class do ray-finned fishes like Perca flavescens belong?What common trait links Perca flavescens to walleye within Family Percidae?Which genus assignment separates Perca flavescens from the White Perch or Rock Bass?What evidence confirms P. flavescens and P. fluviatilis should be recognized as separate species?What Global Conservation Status Rank does NatureServe assign Perca flavescens?What is the meaning derived from the specific epithet flavescens?Which name is NOT listed as a historical synonym for Perca flavescens?What defines the Phylum Chordata classification for Perca flavescens?How do Perca flavescens physical structures differ from walleye or sauger?What is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service TSN recorded for Perca flavescens?