| Kenichthys Temporal range: Early Devonian[1]
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|---|---|
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| Kenichthys campbelli | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Sarcopterygii |
| Clade: | Rhipidistia |
| Clade: | Tetrapodomorpha |
| Genus: | †Kenichthys Chang and Zhu, 1993 |
| Type species | |
| †Kenichthys campbelli Chang and Zhu, 1993
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Kenichthys is a genus of sarcopterygian fish from the Devonian period, and a member of the clade Tetrapodomorpha. The only known species of the genus is Kenichthys campbelli (named for the Australian palaeontologist Ken Campbell), the first remains of which were found in China in 1993.[2] The genus is important to the study of the evolution of tetrapods due to the unique nature of its nostrils, which provide vital evidence regarding the evolutionary transition of fish-like nostrils to the tetrapod choanae.[3]
- ^ "Kenichthys". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ^ Chang, M. and Zhu, M. (1993) A new Middle Devonian osteolepidid from Qujing, Yunnan. Mem. Assoc. Australas. Palaeontol. 15 183-198
- ^ Zhu, M. and Ahlberg, P. (2004) The origin of the internal nostril of tetrapods. Nature 432 94-97 doi:10.1038/nature02843