Final answer:
During the Devonian period (410-360 million years ago), known as the age of fishes, bony fishes or Osteichthyes were very prominent and important for the evolution of life on Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bony fishes, or Osteichthyes, were prominent animals during the Devonian period, which is known as the age of fishes. The Devonian spanned from 410 to 360 million years ago and is the period where significant developments in vertebrates took place, including the diversification of fish with lobe fins. These prehistoric fish paved the way for eventual animal colonization of land, as the ability to breathe air was crucial for this transition. The Devonian period is best known for the evolution of the first seed plants and for being a time when vertebrate diversity greatly increased. Although many marine vertebrates went extinct towards the end of this period, the Devonian is crucial for understanding the evolution of life on Earth.