Halecomorphi

Halecomorphi is a clade of ray-finned fish that includes gars (Lepisosteiformes) and bowfins (Amiiformes). This group is characterized by a number of skeletal features, including a deeply forked caudal fin and a gular plate. Halecomorphs are ancient fishes, with a fossil record extending back to the Jurassic period. They are considered to be among the closest living relatives of teleosts, the most diverse group of bony fishes. The living halecomorphs are represented by only two extant families: the Lepisosteidae (gars) and the Amiidae (bowfins). Gars are found in North and Central America, while bowfins are found in eastern North America. Both groups are predatory fish. Fossil halecomorphs exhibit a wider range of morphologies and geographical distribution, indicating a more diverse past for this lineage. The study of halecomorphs is important for understanding the evolutionary history of bony fishes and the origins of teleosts. Their relatively primitive features, in contrast to more derived teleosts, make them valuable subjects for comparative anatomical and phylogenetic studies.