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.
Other distinguishing characteristics of living gnathostomates are the myelin sheathes of neurons, and an adaptive immune system.
The traditional classes of Gnathostomata include:
- Placodermi - extinct
- Chondrichthyes (cartilagenous fish)
- Acanthodii - extinct
- Osteichthyes (bony fish)
- subclass Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish)
- subclass Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)
- Amphibia (amphibians)
- Reptilia (reptiles)
- Aves (birds)
- Mammalia (mammals)
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