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Osteolepiform
Osteolepiformes, also known as Osteolepidida, is a group of prehistoric lobe-finned fishes which first appeared during the Devonian period. The order contains the families Canowindridae, Megalichthyidae, Osteolepididae and Tristichopteridae. The order is generally considered to be paraphyletic because the characters that define it are mainly attributes of stem tetrapodomorphs. Below is a cladogram A cladogram (from Greek ''clados'' "branch" and ''gramma'' "character") is a diagram used in cladistics to show relations among organisms. A cladogram is not, however, an evolutionary tree because it does not show how ancestors are related to ... showing the paraphyly of Osteolepiformes compiled and modified from Ahlberg and Johanson (1998). See also Swartz (2012). Osteolepiformes is marked by the green bracket. References External linksTree of Life Tetrapodomorphs Prehistoric fish orders Paraphyletic groups {{paleo-lobefinned-fish-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eusthenodon
''Eusthenodon'' (Greek for “strong-tooth” – ''eustheno''- meaning “strength”, -''odon'' meaning “tooth”) is an extinct genus of tristichopterid tetrapodomorphs from the Devonian, Late Devonian period, ranging between 383 and 359 million years ago (Frasnian to Famennian). They are well known for being a cosmopolitan genus with remains being recovered from East Greenland, Australia, Central Russia, South Africa, Pennsylvania, and Belgium. Compared to the other closely related genera of the Tristichopteridae clade, ''Eusthenodon'' was one of the largest Sarcopterygii, lobe-finned fishes (approximately 2.5 meters in length) and among the most derived tristichopterids alongside its close relatives ''Cabonnichthys'' and ''Mandageria''. The large size, predatory ecology, and evolutionarily derived characters possessed by ''Eusthenodon'' likely contributed to its ability to occupy and flourish in the numerous localities across the world mentioned above. ''Eusthenodon'' is a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tristichopteridae
Tristichopterids (Tristichopteridae) were a diverse and successful group of tetrapodomorph fishes living throughout the Middle and Late Devonian. They first appeared in the Eifelian stage of the Middle Devonian. Within the group sizes ranged from a few tens of centimeters (''Tristichopterus'') to several meters (''Hyneria'' and ''Eusthenodon''). Some tristichopterids share some of the features of the elpistostegalians, a diverse clade of fishes close to the origin of (and including) tetrapods. This mainly concerns the shape of the skull and a reduction in size of the posterior fins. An old and persistent notion is that ''Eusthenopteron'' was able to crawl onto land using its fins. However, there is no evidence actually supporting this idea.M. Laurin, F. J. Meunier, D. Germain, and M. Lemoine 2007A microanatomical and histological study of the paired fin skeleton of the Devonian sarcopterygian ''Eusthenopteron foordi Journal of Paleontology'' 81: 143–153. All tristichopterids h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lobe-finned Fishes
Sarcopterygii (; ) — sometimes considered synonymous with Crossopterygii () — is a taxon (traditionally a class or subclass) of the bony fishes known as the lobe-finned fishes. The group Tetrapoda, a mostly terrestrial superclass including amphibians, sauropsids ( reptiles, including dinosaurs and therefore birds) and synapsids (with mammals being the only extant group), evolved from certain sarcopterygians; under a cladistic view, tetrapods are themselves considered a subgroup within Sarcopterygii. The known extant non-tetrapod sarcopterygians include two species of coelacanths and six species of lungfishes. Characteristics Early lobe-finned fishes are bony fish with fleshy, lobed, paired fins, which are joined to the body by a single bone. The fins of lobe-finned fishes differ from those of all other fish in that each is borne on a fleshy, lobelike, scaly stalk extending from the body. The scales of sarcopterygians are true scaloids, consisting of lamellar bon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tetrapodomorpha
The Tetrapodomorpha (also known as Choanata) are a clade of vertebrates consisting of tetrapods (four-limbed vertebrates) and their closest sarcopterygian relatives that are more closely related to living tetrapods than to living lungfish. Advanced forms transitional between fish and the early labyrinthodonts, such as ''Tiktaalik'', have been referred to as "fishapods" by their discoverers, being half-fish, half-tetrapods, in appearance and limb morphology. The Tetrapodomorpha contains the crown group tetrapods (the last common ancestor of living tetrapods and all of its descendants) and several groups of early stem tetrapods, which includes several groups of related lobe-finned fishes, collectively known as the osteolepiforms. The Tetrapodamorpha minus the crown group Tetrapoda are the Stem Tetrapoda, a paraphyletic unit encompassing the fish to tetrapod transition. Among the characteristics defining tetrapodomorphs are modifications to the fins, notably a humerus with convex he ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elpistostegalia
Elpistostegalia or Panderichthyida is an order of prehistoric lobe-finned fishes which lived during the Middle Devonian to Late Devonian period (about 385 to 374 million years ago). They represent the advanced tetrapodomorph stock, the fishes more closely related to tetrapods than the osteolepiform fishes. The earliest elpistostegalians, combining fishlike and tetrapod-like characters, are sometimes called fishapods, a phrase coined for the advanced elpistostegalian ''Tiktaalik''. Through a strict cladistic view, the order includes the terrestrial tetrapods. Palaeobiology of the elpistostegalians A rise in global oxygen content allowed for the evolution of large, predatory fish that were able to exploit the shallow tidal areas and swamplands as top predators. Several groups evolved to fill these niches, the most successful were the elpistiostegalians. In such environments, they would have been challenged by periodic oxygen deficiency. In comparable modern aquatic environments l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gogonasus
''Gogonasus'' (meaning "snout from Gogo") was a lobe-finned fish known from three-dimensionally preserved 380-million-year-old fossils found from the Gogo Formation in Western Australia. It lived in the Late Devonian period, on what was once a 1,400-kilometre coral reef off the Kimberley coast surrounding the north-west of Australia. ''Gogonasus'' was a small fish reaching 30–40 cm (1 ft) in length. Its skeleton shows several features that were like those of a four-legged land animal (tetrapod). They included the structure of its middle ear, and its fins show the precursors of the forearm bones, the radius and ulna. Researchers believe it used its forearm-like fins to dart out of the reef to catch prey. ''Gogonasus'' was first described from a single snout (ethmosphenoid) by John A. Long (1985). On Long's 1986 expedition to Gogo the first relatively complete skull of ''Gogonasus'' was found by Chris Nelson and after being prepared solved a scientific controversy by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gyroptychius
''Gyroptychius'' is an extinct genus of osteolepiform lobe-finned fish from the Devonian period. ''Gyroptychius'' was a fast riverine predator with an elongated body about long. As its eyes were relatively small, it is presumed to have hunted by smell rather than sight. ''Gyroptychius'' had short jaws which gave it a powerful bite. All its fins except the pectorals Pectoral may refer to: * The chest region and anything relating to it. * Pectoral cross, a cross worn on the chest * a decorative, usually jeweled version of a gorget * Pectoral (Ancient Egypt), a type of jewelry worn in ancient Egypt * Pectoralis ... were moved to the back to the body, increasing the power of the tail while swimming. References Prehistoric lobe-finned fish genera Megalichthyiforms Devonian bony fish Devonian fish of Europe {{paleo-lobefinned-fish-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Megalichthyidae
Megalichthyidae is an extinct family of tetrapodomorphs which lived from the Middle– Late Devonian to the Early Permian. They are known primarily from freshwater deposits, mostly in the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and North America), but one genus ('' Cladarosymblema'') is known from Australia, and the possible megalichthyid '' Mahalalepis'' is from Antarctica. Description Megalichthyids were fairly primitive tetrapodomorphs, retaining a largely fish-like appearance. Like some other primitive sarcopterygians, their bodies were covered in rhomboid scales that possessed a layer of cosmine (a porous, mineralised tissue). The scales however lacked the peg-and-socket articulations found in some other groups. The skulls of megalichthyids had a rather low and broad shape. Like the scales, the dermal bones of the skull bore a layer of cosmine. The nostrils were somewhat elongated, slit-like holes that were bordered in the front by the lateral rostr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Beelarongia
''Beelarongia'' is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which lived during the Late Devonian period (Frasnian stage, about 375 to 385 million years ago). Fossils have been found in Victoria, Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma .... References Prehistoric lobe-finned fish genera Devonian bony fish Prehistoric fish of Australia Canowindrids Fossil taxa described in 1987 Frasnian life {{paleo-lobefinned-fish-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gooloogongia
''Gooloogongia'' ( ) is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which belonged to the group of rhizodont fishes. ''Gooloogongia'' lived during the Late Devonian period (Famennian stage, about 360 million years ago). Fossils have been found in the Canowindra site, ( Australia). It was named by Zerina Johanson and Per Ahlberg in 1998. In general size and shape ''Gooloogongia'' is similar to the modern saratoga which lives in the tropical rivers of northern Australia. ''Gooloogongia loomesi'' ("Loomes' Gooloogong") named after Bruce Loomes, the foreman of the 1993 excavation of the Canowindra site, and the town of Gooloogong, NSW. Description ''Gooloogongia'' was large in size (about 90 cm). Like other lobe-finned fishes, ''Gooloogongia'' had two rows of teeth in the jaw, the outer row being small teeth, and the inner row being larger fangs. The fangs of ''Gooloogongia'' are sharp and needle-like, but they were probably not strong enough to penetrate the armor plating of s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Canowindra (fish)
''Canowindra'' is a prehistoric lobe-finned fish which lived during the Late Devonian Geological period, period (about 374 to 359 million years ago). The genus is known from only a single well preserved specimen, dubbed ''Canowindra grossi'', after Walter R. Gross, Professor Walter Gross, who spent his career studying lobe-finned fish, and after the Australian town in which it was found, Canowindra#Fossils, Canowindra. ''Canowindra grossi'' was apparently comparatively small in size (about 50 cm) and belongs to the family of Canowindridae. External links https://web.archive.org/web/20080718172910/http://ageoffishes.org.au/fishes/canowind.htm Canowindrids Late Devonian animals Late Devonian fish Devonian bony fish Prehistoric fish of Australia Prehistoric lobe-finned fish genera {{paleo-lobefinned-fish-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Koharolepis
''Koharalepis'' is a prehistoric lobe-finned fish which lived during the Devonian period Period may refer to: Common uses * Era, a length or span of time * Full stop (or period), a punctuation mark Arts, entertainment, and media * Period (music), a concept in musical composition * Periodic sentence (or rhetorical period), a concept .... References Devonian bony fish Canowindrids Prehistoric lobe-finned fish genera {{paleo-lobefinned-fish-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
