left, Marine life of the Early and early Middle Triassic: ''Ticinepomis'' (13) ''Ticinepomis'' is an

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

genus of coelacanth lobe-finned fish which lived during the Middle Triassic period in what is now

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. It contains a single species, ''T. peyeri''. ''T. peyeri'' specimens are most common in the

Besano Formation The Besano Formation is a geological formation in the southern Alps of northwestern Italy and southern Switzerland. This formation, a short but fossiliferous succession of dolomite and black shale, is famous for its preservation of Middle Triassic ...

(or Grenzbitumenzone) of Monte San Giorgio in Ticino. Other coelacanths from Monte San Giorgio include a larger species (tentatively referred to '' Holophagus picenus'') from the Besano Formation, and a species of '' Heptanema'' from the

Meride Limestone Meride is a village and former municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. On 14 April 2013 the former municipalities of Besazio, Ligornetto and Meride merged into the municipality of Mendrisio.

. Larger ''Ticinepomis'' specimens have been found in the Prosanto Formation of Graubünden. ''Ticinepomis'' was originally described as being a member of the family Coelacanthidae, being similar to '' Coelacanthus'', ''Holophagus'' and ''

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 ...

''. Later, ''T. peyeri'' was placed in Latimeriidae. The bizarre Prosanto Formation latimeriid ''

Foreyia ''Foreyia'' is an extinct genus of coelacanth lobe-finned fish which lived during the Middle Triassic period in what is now Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It contains a single species ''F. maxkuhni''. Description and classification ''F. m ...

'' is thought to be ''T. peyeri''s closest relative, as they share many features despite their drastically contrasting appearances.

References

Latimeriidae Prehistoric lobe-finned fish genera Triassic bony fish Triassic fish of Europe Fossil taxa described in 1980 {{Triassic-animal-stub