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Ctenoid scales are a type of scale found on advanced fish, such as perch and sunfish. They are similar to cycloid scales but have a distinctive comblike edge. These scales are made of bone and are part of the dermal layer of the skin, providing protection.12

Scales in fish have evolved significantly. Primitive fish had thick, bony plates, while modern teleost fish have thinner, more flexible bony scales. Ctenoid scales, along with cycloid scales, are characteristic of higher bony fishes. The term "Ctenoidei" itself refers to an artificial grouping of fishes that possess these ctenoid scales.234

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