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Concept

Sarcopterygii

Sarcopterygii is a major group of vertebrates known as the lobe-finned fish. Unlike the ray-finned fish that dominate modern waters, sarcopterygians possess fleshy fins supported by a central bone structure. This group is of profound evolutionary significance as it includes the ancestors of all tetrapods—the four-limbed land animals. While most ancient lineages are extinct, the group survives today through the coelacanths, lungfish, and the entirety of terrestrial vertebrate life, including humans.

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