The article "Phylogenetic Classification of Living and Fossil Ray-Finned Fishes (Actinopterygii)" by Thomas J. Near and Christine E. Thacker provides a comprehensive and updated classification of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii), based on the latest molecular phylogenetic studies. The authors review the history of Actinopterygii classification, highlighting the shift from morphological to molecular phylogenetics, which has significantly advanced our understanding of the group's evolutionary relationships. They introduce an unranked phylogenetic classification that avoids redundant group names and includes 97 clade definitions, with detailed information on species diversity, diagnostic morphological traits, and nomenclatural history. The classification is based on a summary phylogeny of 830 lineages, including 287 fossil taxa, and aims to provide a robust framework for future research on Actinopterygii. The article also discusses the challenges and benefits of using the PhyloCode for taxonomic nomenclature, emphasizing the importance of phylogenetic definitions and the avoidance of nested group names.The article "Phylogenetic Classification of Living and Fossil Ray-Finned Fishes (Actinopterygii)" by Thomas J. Near and Christine E. Thacker provides a comprehensive and updated classification of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii), based on the latest molecular phylogenetic studies. The authors review the history of Actinopterygii classification, highlighting the shift from morphological to molecular phylogenetics, which has significantly advanced our understanding of the group's evolutionary relationships. They introduce an unranked phylogenetic classification that avoids redundant group names and includes 97 clade definitions, with detailed information on species diversity, diagnostic morphological traits, and nomenclatural history. The classification is based on a summary phylogeny of 830 lineages, including 287 fossil taxa, and aims to provide a robust framework for future research on Actinopterygii. The article also discusses the challenges and benefits of using the PhyloCode for taxonomic nomenclature, emphasizing the importance of phylogenetic definitions and the avoidance of nested group names.