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Neopterygii is the largest clade of ray-finned fishes, including Teleostei, Holostei, and their closely related fossil taxa. This clade was first documented in the Early Carboniferous and underwent rapid evolutionary radiation during the Early to Middle Triassic. This article describes a new perleidid neopterygian species, Teffichthys elegans sp. nov., based on 13 well-preserved specimens from the lower Daye Formation (Dienerian, Induan) in Guizhou, China. The new species documents one of the oldest perleidids, providing insights into the early diversification of this family. The results of a phylogenetic analysis recover Teffichthys elegans sp. nov. as the sister taxon to Teffichthys madagascariensis within the Perleididae. T. elegans sp. nov. shares three derived features of Perleididae: the length of the anteroventral margin of the dermohyal nearly half the length of the anterodorsal margin of the preopercle; the anteroventral margin of the preopercle nearly equal to the anterior margin of the subopercle in length; and the anteroventral margin of the preopercle one to two times as long as the anterodorsal margin of the preopercle. It possesses diagnostic features of Teffichthys but differs from T. madagascariensis by the following features: presence of three supraorbitals; six pairs of branchiostegal rays; relatively deep anterodorsal process of subopercle; absence of spine on the posterior margin of the jugal; and pterygial formula of D26/P14, A22, C36/T39-41. The Perleidiformes are restricted to include only the Perleididae, and other previously alleged 'perleidiform' families (e.g., Hydropessidae and Gabanellidae) are excluded to maintain the monophyly of the order. Similar to many other perleidids, T. elegans sp. nov. was likely a durophagous predator with dentition combining grasping and crushing morphologies. The new finding also may indicate a relatively complex trophic structure of the Early Triassic marine ecosystem in South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The previously alleged ‘perleidid’ genus Peltoperleidus is a stem-neopterygian fish taxon with two or three horizontal rows of notably deepened flank scales. Until recently, members of this genus were known only from the Ladinian (late Middle Triassic) or near the Anisian/Ladinian boundary (~242 Ma) in southern Switzerland and northern Italy. Here, I report the discovery of a new species of the genus, Peltoperleidus asiaticus sp. nov., based on three well-preserved specimens from the Anisian (early Middle Triassic, ~244 Ma) of Luoping, eastern Yunnan, China. The discovery extends the geological range of Peltoperleidus by approximately two million years and documents the first record of the genus in Asia. Similar to its relatives (represented by P. macrodontus) from Europe, P. asiaticus sp. nov. is likely a small-sized durophagous predator with dentition combining grasping and crushing morphologies. Results of a cladistic analysis unite four species of Peltoperleidus as a monophyletic group within the Louwoichthyiformes, and suggest that the presence of two horizontal rows of notably deepened scales was independently evolved in Peltoperleidus and another stem-neopterygian taxon Altisolepis. P. asiaticus sp. nov. is nested at the base of Peltoperleidus, and a new family Peltoperleididae is proposed for the genus, contrasting the previous placement of Peltoperleidus in the poorly defined, paraphyletic ‘Perleididae’. Comparative studies of the basal peltoperleidid from China with its younger relatives from Europe provide new insights into the evolutionary origin and paleogeographic distribution of this clade.

Neopterygii is a taxonomically diverse clade of ray-finned fishes, including Teleostei, Holostei and closely related fossil taxa. The Colobodontidae is a stem group of large-sized neopterygians with a durophagous feeding adaption from the Middle to Late Triassic marine ecosystems in Europe and South China. Here, we report the discovery of a new colobodontid, Feroxichthys panzhouensis sp. nov., based on a well-preserved specimen from the early Middle Triassic (Anisian) of Panzhou (formerly known as Panxian), Guizhou, China. The discovery extends the geographical distribution of Feroxichthys from eastern Yunnan into western Guizhou, and demonstrates a more rapid diversification of early colobodontids than previously thought. The new species possesses diagnostic features of Feroxichthys (e.g., a fused lacrimal-maxilla), but it is easily distinguished from the type species Feroxichthys yunnanensis and other colobodontids by some derived features on the skull and, especially, the relatively short and deep body with a prominent postcranial hump. This body form, previously unknown in colobodontids, implicates a morphological adaptation to structurally complex habitats in light of ecological studies of modern ray-finned fishes with a similar body form. In addition, the feeding apparatus suggests a more obligate durophagous diet for F. panzhouensis sp. nov. than other colobodontids. Results of a cladistic analysis recover the new species as a sister taxon of F. yunnanensis within the Colobodontidae, and suggest that a hump-backed body form has independently evolved multiple times in Triassic neopterygians. As such, the new finding provides an important addition for our understanding of the morphological and ecological diversity of neopterygian fishes from the Triassic marine ecosystems in South China.

In teleost fishes, there are three immunoglobulin isotypes named immunoglobulin M (IgM), D (IgD), and T (IgT). IgT was the last to be described in teleost fishes, and it is specific to them. From recent fish genomes, we identified and studied the immunoglobulin heavy chain genes in Actinopterygii. For this analysis, a custom bioinformatics and machine learning pipeline, we call CHfinder, was developed that identifies the exons coding for the CH domains of fish immunoglobulins. Some IgT in teleost and holostean fish found from this systematic study have not been previously described. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences of the IgT CH1 exons reveals they are similar to the CH1 of IgM. This analysis also shows that the other three domains (CH2, CH3, and CH4) were not the result of recent IgM duplication processes in Actinopterygii, demonstrating that it is an immunoglobulin of earlier origin. The bioinformatics program, CHfinder, is publicly available at https://github.com/compimmuno/CHfinder. • CHFinder - A tool to characterize genes coding for a key part of the jawed vertebrate adaptive immune system immunoglobulins. • IgT characterization of 88 species spanning the entire Actinopterygii lineage describes an unclear pattern of presence/absent. • IgT in teleost and holostean fish found from this systematic study have not been previously described. • Refute the IgM-duplication hypothesis and revealing a complex evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neopterygii is a large group of ray-finned fishes which underwent a rapid radiation in the Middle Triassic. Until recently, 11 stem neopterygians have been recovered from the early Middle Triassic Luoping Biota in eastern Yunnan, China, and they are small to medium-sized fishes. Here, I report the discovery of a new stem neopterygian, Feroxichthys yunnanensis gen. et sp. nov. from the Luoping Biota, which represents the first evidence of large-sized stem neopteygians in this biota with a total length of ~340 mm (290 mm in standard length). The skull of the new taxon is exceptionally well-preserved, showing some peculiar features rarely known in other stem neopterygians, for example fusion of paired premaxillae, fusion of lacrimal with maxilla, and a fused parieto-dermopterotic with a strong posterior process. Phylogenetic studies recover Feroxichthys as a basal colobodontid, and a revised diagnosis of this family is presented. The feeding apparatus indicates that Feroxichthys might have been predominantly durophagous, resembling other colobodontids. However, the anterior peg-like teeth in the jaws of Feroxichthys are much longer and stronger than other colobodontids, enabling a more powerful initial prey capture before food was passed posteriorly to molariform teeth for crushing in the oral cavity. As a mysterious large durophagous predator previously unknown from the Luoping Biota, the new finding is important not only for understanding the early diversification of neopterygians during this age but also for investigating the trophic structure in this marine ecosystem.

The diagnosis, composition, and phylogenetic relationships of the European subfamily Pycnodontinae are revised; its record is pushed back from the Cenozoic into the Mesozoic. The Pycnodontinae is confirmed as a monophyletic group. It is diagnosed by: thin, laminar supraoccipital exposed all along the posterior border of the skull roof; cleithrum with two posterior expansions framing the notch for the pectoral fin; reduction in the ossification of the flank scales (clathrate pattern); reduction of the preopercular into a very low bone, never higher than the exposed, ornamented portion of the dermohyomandibular; and presence of a bifid cloacal scale. The subfamily includes the tribe Pycnodontini (Pycnodus + Oropycnodus), Polazzodus, Sylvienodus, and Tergestinia. The former "Coelodus" gridellii is moved to Polazzodus gridellii n. comb. The Italian genera, Pycnodus, Polazzodus, and Tergestinia, form a monophyletic group together with the French Oropycnodus. The present analysis shows that Polazzodus, Sylvienodus, and Tergestinia are pycnodontin fishes, but Haqelpycnodus, Libanopycnodus, Scalacurvichthys, and Sigmapycnodus do not belong to the Pycnodontinae. "Pseudopycnodus" and "P. nardoensis" are considered nomina dubia. This revision has revealed new aspects of the last known diversification in the evolutionary history of the Pycnodontiformes, showing that the group was still thriving in the Western Tethys during the Late Cretaceous. For the present analysis, additional arguments involving ontogenetic restrictions are provided to favour ordering multistate characters in pycnodonts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four complete platysiagid fish specimens are described from the Luoping Biota, Anisian (Middle Triassic), Yunnan Province, southwest China. They are small fishes with bones and scales covered with ganoine. All characters observed, such as nasals meeting in the midline, a keystone-like dermosphenotic, absence of post-rostral bone, two infraorbitals between dermosphenotic and jugal, large antorbital, and two postcleithra, suggest that the new materials belong to a single, new Platysiagum species, P. sinensis sp. nov. Three genera are ascribed to Platysiagidae: Platysiagum , Helmolepis and Caelatichthys. However, most specimens of the first two genera are imprints or fragmentary. The new, well-preserved specimens from the Luoping Biota provide more detailed anatomical information than before, and thus help amend the concept of the Platysiagidae. The Family Platysiagidae was previously classed in the Perleidiformes. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the Platysiagidae is a member of basal Neopterygii, and its origin seems to predate that of Perleidiformes. Moreover, platysiagid fishes are known from the Middle Triassic of the western Tethys region. The newly found specimens of platysiagids from Luoping provide additional evidence that both eastern and western sides of the Tethys Ocean were biogeographically more connected than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of well-preserved fossil assemblages from the Middle Triassic marine rock succession in Southwest China provide unique evidences for studying the early evolution of holostean fishes, including Halecomorphi (e.g., bownfin) and Ginglymodi (e.g., gars). Ginglymodi have the earliest record in the early Middle Triassic (Anisian, ∼244 Ma) of China, represented by Kyphosichthys and Sangiorgioichthys sui from Yunnan and S. yangjuanensis from Guizhou. Here, we report the discovery of a new ginglymodian, Fuyuanichthys wangi gen. et sp. nov., based on 22 well-preserved specimens from the lower part of the Zhuganpo member of the Falang Formation in eastern Yunnan and western Guizhou, which documents the first discovery of convincing ginglymodians from the late Middle Triassic (Ladinian, ∼240 Ma) Xingyi biota in China. Fuyuanichthys possesses a unique combination of features that easily distinguishes it from other ginglymodians, such as presence of a median gular and short and edentulous maxillae, and absence of a supramaxilla and supraorbitals. As one of the smallest known ginglymodians with a maximum standard length of ∼75 mm, the new finding further supports that the Middle Triassic Ginglymodi have a relatively small range of body sizes compared with the Halecomorphi from the same ecosystems in China. Results of a phylogenetic analysis recover Fuyuanichthys as a sister taxon to Kyphosichthys at the ginglymodian stem, and provide new insights into the early evolution of this clade.

Dapedium is one of the most abundant and diverse genera of ganoid fishes from the Early Jurassic fossil lagerstätte of Europe. In spite of its abundance, however, its timing of extinction is poorly constrained, with the youngest described material being Early Jurassic in age. We describe new diagnostic and relatively complete material of a large species of Dapedium (standard length estimated at 50 cm) from the Middle Jurassic (earliest Aalenian) Opalinuston Formation of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Aalenian material represents a distinct species, D. ballei sp. nov., differing from Early Jurassic species in a unique combination of characters pertaining to the shape of the dermal skull elements, pectoral fin position, and scale shape and ornamentation. However, although D. ballei sp. nov. exhibits a unique combination of characters, there are no autapomorphies with which to distinguish it from the Toarcian species of Dapedium. Dapedium ballei represents the geologically youngest species of Dapedium, extending the range of this genus into the Middle Jurassic. The Opalinuston Formation fills an important gap in the marine vertebrate fossil record, and finds from this horizon have the potential to greatly improve our understanding of evolutionary dynamics over this period of faunal transition.

The phylogenetic relationships of the recently described genus †Ticinolepis from the Middle Triassic of the Monte San Giorgio are explored through cladistic analyses of the so far largest morphological dataset for fossil actinopterygians, including representatives of the crown-neopterygian clades Halecomorphi, Ginglymodi and Teleostei, and merging the characters from previously published systematic studies together with newly proposed characters. †Ticinolepis is retrieved as the most basal Ginglymodi and our results support the monophyly of Teleostei and Holostei, as well as Halecomorphi and Ginglymodi within the latter clade. The patterns of relationships within these clades mostly agree with those of previous studies, although a few important differences require future research. According to our results, ionoscopiforms are not monophyletic, caturids are not amiiforms and leptolepids and luisiellids form a monophyletic clade. Our phylogenetic hypothesis confirms the rapid radiation of the holostean clades Halecomorphi and Ginglymodi during the Early and Middle Triassic and the radiation of pholidophoriform teleosts during the Late Triassic. Crown-group Halecomorphi have an enormous ghost lineage throughout half of the Mesozoic, but ginglymodians and teleosts show a second radiation during the Early Jurassic. The crown-groups of Halecomorphi, Ginglymodi and Teleostei originated within parallel events of radiation during the Late Jurassic.

Dapedium is one of the most abundant and diverse genera of ganoid fishes from the Early Jurassic fossil lagerstätte of Europe. In spite of its abundance, however, its timing of extinction is poorly constrained, with the youngest described material being Early Jurassic in age. We describe new diagnostic and relatively complete material of a large species of Dapedium (standard length estimated at 50 cm) from the Middle Jurassic (earliest Aalenian) Opalinuston Formation of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Aalenian material represents a distinct species, D. ballei sp. nov., differing from Early Jurassic species in a unique combination of characters pertaining to the shape of the dermal skull elements, pectoral fin position, and scale shape and ornamentation. However, although D. ballei sp. nov. exhibits a unique combination of characters, there are no autapomorphies with which to distinguish it from the Toarcian species of Dapedium. Dapedium ballei represents the geologically youngest species of Dapedium, extending the range of this genus into the Middle Jurassic. The Opalinuston Formation fills an important gap in the marine vertebrate fossil record, and finds from this horizon have the potential to greatly improve our understanding of evolutionary dynamics over this period of faunal transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pleuropholid fish is described for the first time from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) Akrabou Formation, Agoult locality, southeastern Morocco. The new material, consisting of a single complete specimen, is attributed to a new species, Pleuropholis danielae , diagnosed by its slender body shape, the absence of a leptolepid notch in the dentary, a broad maxilla, covering almost the entirely lower jaw, and flank scales with an unserrated posterior margin. This species represents the last known occurrence of Pleuropholidae, a group so far unknown from the Late Cretaceous. • A pleuropholid fish specimen is described from the Cenomanian of Agoult, SE Morocco. • The specimen is assigned to a new species of the genus Pleuropholis , P. danielae. • This is the first known occurrence of Pleuropholidae in the Upper Cretaceous. • Pleuropholid fishes may have become extinct at the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary. • This adds to our understanding of the mid-Cretaceous turnover of marine fish faunas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepisosteoid-type scales are described in detail for the first time from the Barremian-Aptian (Lower Cretaceous) Quiricó Formation of the Sanfranciscana Basin, Southeastern Brazil. The specimens studied herein have been recovered from a new outcrop in northern Minas Gerais state and comprise a few nearly complete posterior scales and hundreds of scale fragments extracted from the sedimentary matrix. The scales are rhombic and preserve both the ganoine and the basal plate. The ganoine layer is thin, pierced by foramina and ornamented by microtubercles, showing the typical arrangement of superimposed sheets. The basal plate is composed by lamellar and woven bone, with flattened and isodiametric osteocytes, canaliculi of Williamson, and Sharpey's fibers. An EDS analysis suggests diagenetic alteration of the basal plate but not the ganoine layer. The morphology of the specimens is similar to that of early neopterygian fishes, including ginglymodians and aspidorhynchids. A less inclusive identification is hampered by the fragmentary condition of the material and the lack of specific diagnostic features in this type of scale. This can be also extended to some isolated scales commonly referred to Lepidotes recovered from several sedimentary basins in the Jurassic-Cretaceous of Brazil. The results add a new record of ganoid scales in the Sanfranciscana Basin, and highlight the importance of more complete specimens rather than isolated scales for a genus-level identification of early neopterygian fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over roughly the last decade, the Lebanese Cenomanian localities have revealed high numbers of newly discovered pycnodont taxa and even two new families of pycnodonts. Here, two new taxa of pycnodont fishes from the Near East are presented, one from Lebanon and the other from Israel. The new Lebanese specimens show us that Lebanon is still a major site for discovering new pycnodont taxa and can give major insights into their evolution and possible life history. Conversely, the new taxon from Israel shows that lesser known fossiliferous sites may tell us more about the true state of diversity of pycnodonts in the Late Cretaceous.

One of the main pending, unsolved problems concerning the study of the pycnodont fishes is their phylogenetic relationships with other major actinopterygian groups. The Pycnodontiformes have often been proposed as the sister group of the Telostei or the Teleosteomorpha. The first extensive cladistic analysis on pycnodont relationships is hereby attempted by coding Pycnodontiformes into a previously existing data matrix with major neopterygian groups: Lepisosteiformes, Semionotiformes, Macrosemiiformes, Halecomorphi, and Teleostei. This analysis has resulted on the Pycnodontiformes having an unexpected position as the most basal Neopterygii among the groups included. Therefore, pycnodonts are not the sister-group of teleosteans, and they are not holosteans either. The phylogenetic relationships and the definition of the Holostei and the Gynglimodi are not affected by the inclusion of the Pycnodontiformes, but the basal position of the latter among Neopterygii may affect the definition of this traditional major actinopterygian group. A collateral consequence of these results is that the Halecostomi can be re-defined as the clade formed by [Holostei + Teleostei]. The phylogenetic relationships of pycnodonts should, consequently, be solved among basal neopterygian groups, mostly from the Triassic, as well as relevant non-neopterygian actinopterygians in order to confirm the neopterygian affinities of the Pycnodontiformes and to verify the definition and diagnosis of the Neopterygii and the Halecostomi.

Dapedium pholidotum(Agassiz, 1832) (Actinopterygii, Neopterygii) is redescribed based on new material from the Posidonia Shale (Early Jurassic: Early Toarcian) of Germany. Dapediiformes ord. nov. is introduced forDapediumLeach, 1822 and other deep-bodied Mesozoic neopterygians. The species diagnosis ofD. pholidotumis amended. Comparison withD. stollorumThies & Hauff, 2011 andD. caelatumQuenstedt, 1858, also from the Lower Jurassic Posidonia Shale, shows thatD. pholidotumis unique in having: (1) a length/height ratio of the operculum ofc. 0.73, whereas inD. stollorumandD. caelatumthis value reaches onlyc. 0.58; (2) a length/width ratio of the gular plate ofc. 1.6, whereas inD. stollorumandD. caelatumthis value is 1.3; (3) 27 or more caudal fin lepidotrichia, whereas inD. stollorumandD. caelatumthere are 24 and 25 lepidotrichia, respectively; (4) at least 26 dorsal fin lepidotrichia, whereasD. stollorumandD. caelatumpossess only 24 dorsal fin lepidotrichia each; and (5) a length/height ratio of the flank scales immediately behind the operculum of 0.37, whereas inD. stollorumandD. caelatumthis ratio ranges around 0.31 and 0.5, respectively. A cladistic analysis based on modification of a previously published taxon–character matrix shows thatDapediumis the sister group of the ginglymodian fishes [Semionotiformes + Lepisosteiformes]. The generic diagnosis ofDapediumLeach, 1822 is amended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary sexual characteristics are features that appear at sexual maturity and distinguish the two sexes of a species. They are readily observed and studied in living animals, but the phenomenon is rather more difficult to identify in fossil taxa. Here we report a new sexually dimorphic stem-neopterygian fish, Venusichthys comptus gen. et sp. nov., based on 30 exceptionally well-preserved specimens from the Middle Triassic (Pelsonian, Anisian) Luoping Lagerstätte of eastern Yunnan, China. The discovery represents the oldest known secondary sexual characteristics in Neopterygii. These characteristics, including pointed tubercles on cranial bones, scales and fins, and hook-like contact organ anterior to the anal fin, have three inferred primary functions: maintenance of body contact between the sexes during prespawning behavior or spawning; stimulation of the females during breeding; and defense of nests and territories. Lacking a specialized anal fin in the presumed males, Venusichthys would likely have a different reproductive strategy from peltopleurids and other potentially viviparous stem-neopterygians. Moreover, Venusichthys shows a unique character combination distinguished from any other stem-neopterygian families and consequently represents a new family of this clade. As such, the new finding provides an important addition for understanding the behavior, reproduction, and early diversification of Neopterygii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspidorhynchiformes as a whole are incompletely understood. Here, a new aspidorhynchiform, Jonoichthys challwa gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a single three-dimensionally preserved specimen recovered from Upper Jurassic marine rocks of the Vaca Muerta Formation, Neuquén, southern Argentina. The new taxon is based on a unique combination of characters (e.g., large skull roof plate composed by the fusion of certain bones; ‘L’-shaped preoperculum with a single main preopercular sensory canal that lacks sensory tubules; three predentary tooth rows; an accessory cusp in the teeth of the median predentary tooth row, and a robust and deep body). It is expected that the morphological information provided here could be useful to further understanding of aspidorhynchiform phylogeny and Neuquén Basin biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishes have evolved to exploit multiple ecological niches. Extant fishes in both marine (e.g., rabbitfishes, surgeonfishes) and freshwater systems (e.g., haplochromine cichlids, characiforms) have evolved specialized, scoop-like, multidenticulate teeth for benthic scraping, feeding primarily on algae. Here, I report evidence of the oldest example of specialized multidenticulate dentition in a ray-finned fish, † Hemicalypterus weiri, from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation of southeastern Utah (∼210-205 Ma), USA. † H. weiri is a lower actinopterygian species that is phylogenetically remote from modern fishes, and has evolved specialized teeth that converge with those of several living teleost fishes (e.g., characiforms, cichlids, acanthurids, siganids), with a likely function of these teeth being to scrape algae off a rock substrate. This finding contradicts previously held notions that fishes with multicuspid, scoop-like dentition were restricted to teleosts, and indicates that ray-finned fishes were diversifying into different trophic niches and exploring different modes of feeding earlier in their history than previously thought, fundamentally altering our perceptions of the ecological roles of fishes during the Mesozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ray-finned fishes ( Actinopterygii) constitute approximately half of all living vertebrate species. A stable hypothesis of relationships among major modern lineages has emerged over the past decade, supported by both anatomy and molecules. Diversity is unevenly partitioned across the actinopterygian tree, with most species concentrated within a handful of geologically young (i.e. Cretaceous) teleost clades. Extant non-teleost groups are portrayed as 'living fossils', but this moniker should not be taken as evidence of especially primitive structure: each of these lineages is characterized by profound specializations. Attribution of fossils to the crowns and apical stems of Cladistia, Chondrostei and Neopterygii is uncontroversial, but placements of Palaeozoic taxa along deeper branches of actinopterygian phylogeny are less secure. Despite these limitations, some major outlines of actinopterygian diversification seem reasonably clear from the fossil record: low richness and disparity in the Devonian; elevated morphological variety, linked to increases in taxonomic dominance, in the early Carboniferous; and further gains in taxonomic dominance in the Early Triassic associated with earliest appearance of trophically diverse crown neopterygians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We report on a new semionotiform taxon, Scheenstia zappi gen. et sp. nov., from Schamhaupten in the Late Jurassic limestones of the Franconian and Swabian Alb, southern Germany. Although the taxon is so far represented by a single specimen, excellent preservation allows a detailed description of its skeletal anatomy. Scheenstia zappi is distinguished by the presence of a sensory canal in the supraorbital bones and a saddle-like articular surface in the quadratojugal, both features so far unknown in other semionotiforms. The new taxon is further diagnosed by a unique combination of characters: more than three pairs of extrascapular bones; frontals less than three times longer than their maximal width; semitritorial dentition; four anterior infraorbitals; middle pit line contained in a groove in the dermopterotic and parietal; concave posterior border of the angular, robust bugle-like process of the posttemporal bone; large basal fulcra; eleven fin rays in the lower lobe of the caudal fin (below the lateral line); and a first, scale-like caudal fin ray reduced. Among semionotiforms it most closely resembles Lepidotes, in particular the large tritorial forms of the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous of Europe, such as L. mantelli, L. maximus and L. laevis. The peculiar shape of the quadratojugal in Scheenstia zappi resembles the condition in some basal teleosts in which a ventral articular surface of the quadrate probably served in the rotation of the lower jaw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new species of Aspidorhynchidae is described for the first time from the Late Jurassic of Ettling, some 50km E-SE of Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany. This new material is attributed to a new species, Aspidorhynchus sanzenbacheri, and is diagnosed by the abbreviated premaxillae, the form and disposition of teeth in the predentary, and the number of principal rays in the caudal fin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Semionotus bergeriAgassiz, 1833, from the Upper Triassic (Carnian) of southern Germany, the type species ofSemionotus, is here described in detail for the first time, including so far unstudied material in the Naturkunde-Museum Coburg, which allows a fairly complète reconstruction of this fish. The species is diagnosed by the présence of long frontals, about 4 times longer than wide, with antorbital lateral processes, 6–7 posterior infraorbitals, infraorbital at the posteroventral corner of the orbit notably larger than adjacent ones, infraorbitals at the posterior border of the orbit being as deep as long, and the middle élément anteroventrally expanded, dorsal fin base about two times the anal fin base.S. elegans from the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic of the Newark Supergroup in North America, is so far the best know species ofSemionotus and is the only species of this genus that has been included in phylogentic analyses. However, the comparison ofS. bergeri with other proposed speciesof Semionotus, such asS. elegans, and other semionotids casts doubt on the monophyly of this genus as currently understood, since these species exhibit a mosaic distribution of characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Over more than two centuries, Africa has been an important source of knowledge with regard to the origins, evolution and distribution of important animal taxa. Not only did Africa south of the Sahara contain a second zoogeographical region virtually unknown four centuries ago, but also gave the world the first insight into the palaeontological wealth and the existence of Gondwana. The section on Agnatha includes a discussion on conodonts from South Africa, considered to be the some of the oldest and best-preserved vertebrate fossils in the world. The section on the Gnathostomata includes a very brief overview of the most important fish taxa from the Palaeozoic to Mesozoic of Africa. The section on the Tetrapoda includes an overview of the major taxa found in the fossil record of the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic of Africa. The Permian and Triassic tetrapod fossils that indicate the evolution and radiation of the parareptiles, eureptiles and synapsids are highlighted. The most important vertebrate fossils from Africa that contributed to our understanding of the radiation of evolutionary important groups such as the fish, tetrapods, tortoises, snakes, crocodiles, dinosaurs and mammals are discussed. The Jurassic and Cretaceous assemblages containing dinosaur and mammal remains, deposited after the break up of Gondwana, are discussed. Finally a perspective on the importance of Africa as fossil repository and the limitations of palaeontological endeavour in Africa is given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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Neopterygii is the largest clade of ray-finned fishes, including Teleostei, Holostei, and their closely related fossil taxa. This clade was first documented in the Early Carboniferous and underwent rapid evolutionary radiation during the Early to Middle Triassic. This article describes a new perleidid neopterygian species, Teffichthys elegans sp. nov., based on 13 well-preserved specimens from the lower Daye Formation (Dienerian, Induan) in Guizhou, China. The new species documents one of the oldest perleidids, providing insights into the early diversification of this family. The results of a phylogenetic analysis recover Teffichthys elegans sp. nov. as the sister taxon to Teffichthys madagascariensis within the Perleididae. T. elegans sp. nov. shares three derived features of Perleididae: the length of the anteroventral margin of the dermohyal nearly half the length of the anterodorsal margin of the preopercle; the anteroventral margin of the preopercle nearly equal to the anterior margin of the subopercle in length; and the anteroventral margin of the preopercle one to two times as long as the anterodorsal margin of the preopercle. It possesses diagnostic features of Teffichthys but differs from T. madagascariensis by the following features: presence of three supraorbitals; six pairs of branchiostegal rays; relatively deep anterodorsal process of subopercle; absence of spine on the posterior margin of the jugal; and pterygial formula of D26/P14, A22, C36/T39-41. The Perleidiformes are restricted to include only the Perleididae, and other previously alleged 'perleidiform' families ( e.g ., Hydropessidae and Gabanellidae) are excluded to maintain the monophyly of the order. Similar to many other perleidids, T. elegans sp. nov. was likely a durophagous predator with dentition combining grasping and crushing morphologies. The new finding also may indicate a relatively complex trophic structure of the Early Triassic marine ecosystem in South China., Competing Interests: Haijun Song is an Academic Editor for PeerJ., (© 2022 Yuan et al.)