Synonym: Antiarchi Cope 1885
Parent taxon: Placodermi according to G. C. Young 2010
See also Denison 1975, Denison 1978, Dineley and Metcalf 1999, Gadow 1898, Hay 1902, Moloshnikov 2007, Sepkoski 2002 and Thomson and Thomas 2001
Sister taxa: Acanthothoraci, Acanthothoraciformes, Antiarchiformes, Arthrodira, Asiacanthus, Austroptyctodus, Bianchengichthys, Brindabellaspida, Campbellodus, Changyonophyton, Coccostei, Coelosteichthys, Deinodus, Entelognathus, Hybosteus, Neopetalichthys, Nessariostoma, Oestophorus, Petalichthida, Petalichthyida, Petalichthyida, Phyllolepida, Pseudopetalichthyida, Pseudopetalichthyiformes, Ptychostei, Ptyctodontida, Rhenanida, Rhenaniformes, Sedowichthys, Stensioellida, Tollichthys, Wangolepis, Yunnanacanthus
Subtaxa: Bothriolepidae Grossaspis Hyrcanaspis Jiangxilepididae Jiangxilepis Lepadolepis Liujiangolepis Macrodontophion Microbrachius Minicrania Phymolepis Pterichthyodid Silurolepidae Walterilepis Xichonolepis Yunnanolepiformes Zhanjilepis
Ecology: nektonic carnivore