Psarolepis

Psarolepis
Temporal range: Pridoli–Lochkovian
Psarolepis romeri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Superclass: Osteichthyes
Genus: Psarolepis
Yu, 1998
Species:
P. romeri
Binomial name
Psarolepis romeri
Yu, 1998

Psarolepis (/sæˈrɒlɪpɪs/; psārolepis, from Greek ψαρός 'speckled' and λεπίς 'scale') is a genus of extinct bony fish which lived around 397 to 418 million years ago (Pridoli to Lochkovian stages). Fossils of Psarolepis have been found mainly in South China and described by paleontologist Xiaobo Yu in 1998. It is not known certainly in which group Psarolepis belongs, but paleontologists agree that it probably is a basal genus and seems to be close to the common ancestor of lobe-finned and ray-finned fishes.[1] In 2001, paleontologist John A. Long compared Psarolepis with onychodontiform fishes and refer to their relationships.

  1. ^ Benton, M. J. (2005): Vertebrate Palaeontology, page 65.