''Libys'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

coelacanth The coelacanths ( ) are fish belonging to the order Actinistia that includes two extant species in the genus ''Latimeria'': the West Indian Ocean coelacanth (''Latimeria chalumnae''), primarily found near the Comoro Islands off the east coast ...

lobe-finned fish 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 includi ...

in the family of Latimeridae. Species of ''Libys'' lived during the Upper

Jurassic The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately Mya. The J ...

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 ...

(

Kimmeridgian In the geologic timescale, the Kimmeridgian is an age in the Late Jurassic Epoch and a stage in the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 157.3 ± 1.0 Ma and 152.1 ± 0.9 Ma (million years ago). The Kimmeridgian follows the Oxfordian ...

Tithonian In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 152.1 ± 4 Ma and 145.0 ± 4 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the K ...

, about 150 to 145 million years ago).

Description

''Libys'' had an exceptionally squat body, especially when compared to other coelacanths of the same period as ''

Undina Undines (; also ondines) are a category of elemental beings associated with water, stemming from the alchemical writings of Paracelsus. Later writers developed the undine into a water nymph in its own right, and it continues to live in modern li ...

'' and ''

Holophagus ''Holophagus'' is an extinct genus of coelacanth belonging to Latimeriidae. The type species, ''Holophagus gulo,'' is known from the Lower Jurassic marine Lias Lias may refer to: Geology * Lias Formation, a geologic formation in France *Lias ...

''. ''Libys'' could reach 60 centimeters in length and was therefore a medium-sized coelacanth, with a short and high skull. The pectoral fins were quite long, while the tail was remarkably short and high

Distribution

Fossils A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved in ...

of these fishes have been found in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, in the famous deposits of Solnhofen.

Species

* ''Libys superbus'' Reis, 1888 * ''Libys polypterus'' The genus ''Libys'' was erected in 1842 by Muenster. The species ''Libys polypterus'' was then established as the type species, on the basis of fragmentary remains. A second species, ''L. superbus'', was described on the basis of complete large specimens, but most authors treat both as one species.

References

BiolibThe Paleobiology Database
*Paul H. LAMBER
A redescription of the coelacanth Macropoma willemoesii VETTER from the lithographic limestone of Solnhofen (Upper Jurassic, Bavaria)
*History of the Coelacanth Fishes by Peter L. Forey, Chapman & Hall, 1998. *von Dr. Peter Wellnhofe

Latimeriidae Prehistoric lobe-finned fish genera Jurassic bony fish Jurassic fish of Europe Fossil taxa described in 1842 {{Jurassic-fish-stub