Gnathostomata

Gnathostomata; Temporal range: Ordovician - Recent
	Examples of jawed vertebrates (clockwise from top left): Dunkleosteus (Placodermi), lemon shark (Chondrichthyes), piranha (Actinopterygii), and Nile crocodile (Tetrapoda).
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Infraphylum:	Gnathostomata
Classes
	Read list here

Gnathostomata is the group of vertebrates with jaws.

The group was meant to include all jawed fish, but in modern fashion it also includes all the tetrapods as well, since they evolved from jawed fish. It is the sister group of the Agnatha, the jawless vertebrates/fish.

The Gnathostomata first appeared in the Ordovician period and became diverse in the Devonian period, the 'Age of Fishes'. Land vertebrates appeared in the Carboniferous period.

Around 99% of all living vertebrate species and 75% to 85% of all living chordate species are in this group.

Subgroups

Chondrichthyes cartilaginous fish
Acanthodii† 'spiny sharks'
Placoderms† armoured fish
Osteichthyes bony fish
- Actinopterygii ray-finned fish
- Sarcopterygii lobe-finned fish and land vertebrates (tetrapods)