| any fish of the class Osteichthyes, characterized by gill covers, an air bladder, and a skeleton composed of bone in addition to cartilage. |
| bony fish n. A fish having a bony rather than cartilaginous skeleton; a teleost. |
bony fish  (bō'nē) Pronunciation Key
Any of numerous ray-finned fishes belonging to the infraclass Teleostei or Teleostomi, having a skeleton that is completely made of bone, rather than partially or completely made of cartilage. Most living species of fish are bony fish. Also called teleost. Compare cartilaginous fish, jawless fish. |