Table 3

Taxonomic distributions and estimates of venomous vertebrate diversity.

Taxon

# Presumed Venomous

Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes

≈1835 - 2275 species

Siluriformes - Catfishes

≈1250-1625 species

Acanthomorpha - Spiny-rayed fishes

≈585-650 species

Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes

≈200 species

Sarcopterygii - Lobe-finned fishes and tetrapods

≈685+ species

Estimates for acanthomorphs, chondrichthyans, and mammals are from [18]. Estimates for venomous snakes and lizards are from [[32] and [34]].

Wright BMC Evolutionary Biology 2009 9:282   doi:10.1186/1471-2148-9-282