In Depth Further Reading – The oldest articulated osteichthyan reveals mosaic gnathostome characters. – Nature 458:469-474. – M. Zhu, W. Zhao, L. Jia, J. Lu, T. Qiao & Q. Qu – 2009. – Cranial morphology of the Silurian sarcopterygian Guiyu oneiros (Gnathostomata: Osteichthyes). – Science China Earth Sciences vol 53 issue 12. – Tuo Qiao … Read more
In Depth The Dapedium genus of fish seem to have been among the most common in the seas of the late Triassic and early Jurassic. The body was deep and round and depending upon he species could be anywhere between nine and forty centimetres long, with the species D. noricum currently known to be the … Read more
In Depth Protosphyraena means ‘early Sphyraena’, a reference to the Sphyraena genus which includes the modern day barracuda. This all came down to the original interpretation of the first fossils which were very much like those of barracuda. However, later fossil examples of Protosphyraena revealed it to be more swordfish-like in appearance, though it must … Read more
In Depth Rhizodus is the type genus of the Rhizodontida, a fairly large group of lobe-finned fishes, many genera of which are known from deposits in Australia. Most remains of Rhizodus however are known from Ireland and Scotland, though some reports suggest that Rhizodus might have also been active in North America as well, something … Read more
In Depth Birgeria are a genus of fish that lived during the Triassic. The body form and broad range of fossil distribution strongly suggest that Birgeria were open water (pelagic) fish that swam throughout the open ocean. The body seems to have been very smooth and the tail deeply vaned, adaptations that support efficient and … Read more
In Depth Palaeoniscum was a predatory fish from the late Permian. The genus displays the continuing trend towards faster swimming for a more active predatory lifestyle. Palaeoniscum still had however air sacs on the underside of its jaw which could be inflated at will. These would have acted like rudimentary swim bladders for controlling buoyancy … Read more