teleostean

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   relating to the teleosts, the large group containing most living bony fishes

   The fossil bed contained scales from several early teleostean fishes.

2. 2
   noun

   a teleost fish; a member of the group Teleostei

   The specimen was identified as a teleostean rather than a shark or ray.

Formed from scientific Latin Teleostei + -an. Teleostei combines Greek teleios, 'complete or perfect,' + osteon, 'bone,' referring to the fully ossified skeleton associated with these fishes. Teleostean is the older relational adjective and is also recorded as a noun.

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