Kenichthys

Kenichthys
Temporal range: 393–382 Ma Early Devonian[1]
Kenichthys campbelli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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

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]

  1. ^ "Kenichthys". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  2. ^ Chang, M. and Zhu, M. (1993) A new Middle Devonian osteolepidid from Qujing, Yunnan. Mem. Assoc. Australas. Palaeontol. 15 183-198
  3. ^ Zhu, M. and Ahlberg, P. (2004) The origin of the internal nostril of tetrapods. Nature 432 94-97 doi:10.1038/nature02843