Synonym: Arthrodiriformes Grande and Eastman 1986
Parent taxon: Placodermi according to R. van der Laan 2019
See also Bryant 1932, Denison 1975, Denison 1978, Dineley and Metcalf 1999, Gadow 1898, Grande and Eastman 1986, Hay 1902, Jobbins et al. 2022, Long 2011, Nelson et al. 2016, Obruchev 1964, Plax and Newman 2020, Straka and Semken 1969, Young 2010 and Young and Long 2014
Sister taxa: Acanthothoraci, Acanthothoraciformes, Antiarchi, Asiacanthus, Austroptyctodus, Bianchengichthys, Brindabellaspida, Campbellodus, Changyonophyton, Clarkeosteus, Coccostei, Coelosteichthys, Cratoselachiidae, Deinodus, Entelognathus, Hybosteus, Neopetalichthys, Nessariostoma, Norilaspis, Oestophorus, Petalichthida, Petalichthyida, Petalichthyida, Pseudopetalichthyida, Pseudopetalichthyiformes, Ptychostei, Ptyctodontida, Rhenanida, Rhenaniformes, Sedowichthys, Stensioelliformes, Tollichthys, Wangolepis, Yunnanacanthus
Subtaxa: Acanthaspida Actinolepidiformes Actinolepidoidei Actinolepina Africanaspis Antarctolepis Arctonema Arenipiscis Aspidichthys Atlantidosteus Brachydeirina Brachythoracoidei Callognathus Carolowilhelmina Coccosteina Coccosteoidei Copanognathus Cosmacanthus Cravenaspis Denisonosteus Diplognathus Edgellaspis Erikaspis Errolosteus Eskimaspis Euarthrodira Eubrachythoraci Glyptaspis Grazosteus Heintzosteus Heterostiina Hollardosteus Holonematina Huaningichthys Incisoscutoidea Kartalaspis Kimberleyichthys Kueichowlepis Kunmingolepis Laurentaspis Lurapullaspis Machaerognathus Mediaspidae Murmur Operchallosteus Overtonaspis Pachyosteidae Pachyosteina Parawilliamsaspis Phlyctaeniiformes Phlyctaenina Pholidosteidae Phylctaeniida Phyllolepida Phyllolepidoidei Platyaspis Prescottaspidae Qataraspis Squamatognathus Stegophthalami Taemasosteus Taunaspis Temnothoraci Timanosteus Toombalepis Toombsosteus Tyriolepis Wheathillaspis Wuttagoonaspina