Ptycholepis

Ptycholepis is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish [1] having the head and opercular bones ornamented with ridges of ganoin, minute teeth, and thick scales (which are much longer than deep and are grooved longitudinally on the outer side).[2]

Ptycholepis
Ptycholepis bollensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Ptycholepididae
Genus:
Ptycholepis

Agassiz, 1843
Species

P. avus
P. barboi
P. bollensis
P. curtus
P. gracilis
P. magnus
P. minor
P. monilifer
P. priscus
P. schaefferi

Ptycholepis belongs to the family Ptycholepidae (= Boreosomidae/Chungkingichthyidae). Other genera of this family are Acrorhabdus (Spitsbergen, Early Triassic), Ardoreosomus (Nevada, United States; Early Triassic), Boreosomus (global, Early Triassic), Chungkingichthys (China, Early Triassic) and Yuchoulepis (China, Early Triassic). A typical feature of this family is the dorsal fin, which inserts at the level of the pelvic fins in the front part of the body. Other characters include the striated skull bones and scales, and the small teeth.

See also

References

  1. Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  2. "Definition of Ptycholepis". Century Dictionary. Wordnik. Retrieved 5 March 2011.


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