Ptycholepis

Ptycholepis
Ptycholepis bollensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Ptycholepiformes
Family: Ptycholepididae
Genus: Ptycholepis
Agassiz, 1833
Type species
Ptycholepis bollensis
Agassiz, 1833
Species
  • P. avus Kner, 1866
  • P. barboi Bassani, 1886
  • P. curtus Egerton, 1854
  • P. gracilis (Davis, 1884)
  • P. magnus Bürgin, 1992
  • P. marshi Newberry, 1878
  • P. minor Egerton, 1852
  • P. monilifer Woodward, 1895
  • P. priscus Bürgin, 1992
  • P. raiblensis Bronn, 1859
  • P. schaefferi Bürgin, 1992

Ptycholepis is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish[1] having the head and opercular bones ornamented with ridges of ganoin, minute teeth, and thick scales (which are much longer than deep and are grooved longitudinally on the outer side).[2]

Ptycholepis belongs to the family Ptycholepidae (= Boreosomidae/Chungkingichthyidae). Other genera of this family are Acrorhabdus (Spitsbergen, Early Triassic), Ardoreosomus (Nevada, United States; Early Triassic), Boreosomus (global, Early Triassic), Chungkingichthys (China, Early Triassic) and Yuchoulepis (China, Early Triassic). A typical feature of this family is the dorsal fin, which inserts at the level of the pelvic fins in the front part of the body. Other characters include the striated skull bones and scales, and the small teeth.

  1. ^ Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  2. ^ "Definition of Ptycholepis". Century Dictionary. Wordnik. Retrieved 5 March 2011.