[1][2] The fossil record of ginglymodians goes back at least to the Anisian stage of the Triassic period, over 240 million years ago.

Acentrophorus, another taxon from the Middle and Late Permian, and Paracentrophorus from the Early Triassic epoch, could be even earlier members of the group.

Notably, molecular evidence suggests that the cypriniforms may have originated and diversified around the same time and place (Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous Southeast Asia) that the similar freshwater ginglymodians showed major diversification.

[7] Eventually, some ginglymodians evolved a more predatory lifestyle, with the earliest known true gars from the Late Jurassic.

[8] Ginglymodians underwent a major decline during the mid-Cretaceous, eventually leaving gars as the only surviving members of the group.