Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2009
Watson (1937) in his important work on Acanthodians demonstrated that the mode of jaw-suspension of this group and probably also that of the Arthrodira.Macropetalichthyida, Rhenanida, and Antiarchi was in a more primitive condition than in other Gnathostomes. The hyomandibula of these fishes played no important part in the suspension of the jaws, and the hyoidean gill-slit persisted as such, not being reduced to a spiracle. Watson introduced the name Aphetohyoidea (free hyoid) for the group containing all these fishes, distinguishing them from the more advanced Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes.