Palaeoniscum

Palaeoniscum is an extinct genus of ray-finned fish from the Permian period of Europe, North America, and South Africa. It was named in 1818 by Blainville.[1]

Palaeoniscum

Palaeoniscum
Temporal range: Late Permian
Palaeoniscum vratislavensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Genus:
Palaeoniscum

Species:
P. freieslebeni (type)
P. vratislavensis
Synonyms

Palaeoniscus

Palaeoniscum had a torpedo-shaped body 30 cm (12 in) in length, with a deeply forked caudal fin and tall dorsal fin, indicating that it was a fast swimmer. It was probably an active predator, feeding on other freshwater fish. Its sharp teeth could be replaced when lost, a trait also seen in modern sharks. Like other early ray-finned fish, Palaeoniscum had air sacs connected to the mouth, which served as a primitive swim bladder.[2]

References

  1. Blainville, H.-M. D. (1818). Sur les Ichthyolites, les Poisons Fossiles; Article extrait du Nouveau Dictionnaire d’Histoire Naturelle, vol. 28, Abel Lange, p. 16.
  2. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 36. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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