|
Latimeriid
Latimeriidae is the only extant family of coelacanths, an ancient lineage of lobe-finned fish. It contains two extant species in the genus ''Latimeria'', found in deep waters off the coasts of southern Africa and east-central Indonesia. In addition, several fossil genera are known from the Mesozoic of Europe, the Middle East, and the southeastern United States, dating back to the Triassic. The latimeriids are thought to have always been an exclusively marine group. They may have originated in the western Tethys Sea, as many of the earliest species are known from areas that it formerly covered. The largest known member of the family, the Late Cretaceous '' Megalocoelacanthus'', may have reached 4.5 metres in length. The Latimeriidae are thought to be the sister group to the Mawsoniidae, an extinct family of coelacanths that survived until the Late Cretaceous The Late Cretaceous (100.5–66 Ma) is the more recent of two epochs into which the Cretaceous Period is divided in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coelacanth
Coelacanths ( ) are an ancient group of lobe-finned fish (Sarcopterygii) in the class Actinistia. As sarcopterygians, they are more closely related to lungfish and tetrapods (the terrestrial vertebrates including living amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) than to ray-finned fish. The name coelacanth originates from the Permian genus '' Coelacanthus'', which was the first scientifically named genus of coelacanths (in 1839), becoming the type genus of Coelacanthiformes as other species were discovered and named. Well-represented in freshwater and marine deposits from as early as the Devonian period (more than 410million years ago), they were thought to have become extinct in the Late Cretaceous, around 66million years ago. The first living species, ''Latimeria chalumnae'', the West Indian Ocean coelacanth, was described from specimens fished off the coast of South Africa from 1938 onward; they are now also known to inhabit the seas around the Comoro Islands off the eas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Foreyia
''Foreyia'' is an extinct genus of coelacanth lobe-finned fish which lived during the Middle Triassic period in what is now Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It contains a single species ''F. maxkuhni''. Naming The generic name honors the late Peter L. Forey for his contributions to the study of coelacanth fishes. The specific epithet honors Max Kuhn, who had been instrumental in preparing fossils from Monte San Giorgio for 12 years, including the holotype and paratype specimens of ''F. maxkuhni''. Description and classification ''F. maxkuhni'' is an aberrant-looking member of the family Latimeriidae, with a proportionally enormous head, a curved, beak-like maxilla, an underbite, and a low, horn-like point on its otherwise dome-like head. Despite such a bizarre appearance, phylogenetic analyses squarely place ''F. maxkuhni'' as the sister taxon of '' Ticinepomis'', another latimeriid also found in the same strata. The two latimeriids share numerous anatomical traits with each ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Latimeria
''Latimeria'' is a rare genus of fish which contains the two only living species of coelacanth. It includes two Extant taxon, extant species: the West Indian Ocean coelacanth (''Latimeria chalumnae'') and the Indonesian coelacanth (''Latimeria menadoensis''). They follow the oldest known living Lineage (evolution), lineage of Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish and tetrapods), which means they are more closely related to lungfish and tetrapods (amphibians, reptiles and mammals) than to the common ray-finned fishes and Chondrichthyes, cartilaginous fishes. They are found along the coastlines of the Indian Ocean and Indonesia. Since there are only two known species of coelacanth and both are threatened, it is one of the most endangered genera of animals in the world. The West Indian Ocean coelacanth is a critically endangered species. Biological characteristics Based on growth rings in the creatures' ear bones (otoliths), scientists infer that individual coelacanths may live as long ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Libys
''Libys'' is a genus of coelacanth fish in the family of Latimeriidae. Species of ''Libys'' lived during the Lower-Upper Jurassic period Period may refer to: Common uses * Period (punctuation) * Era, a length or span of time *Menstruation, commonly referred to as a "period" Arts, entertainment, and media * Period (music), a concept in musical composition * Periodic sentence (o ... (Toarcian - Tithonian, about 183 to 145 million years ago). Description ''Libys'' had an exceptionally squat body, especially when compared to other coelacanths of the same period as ''Undina (fish), Undina'' and ''Holophagus''. ''Libys'' could reach 60 centimeters in length and was therefore a medium-sized coelacanth, with a short and high skull. The pectoral fins were quite long, while the tail was remarkably short and high. Distribution Fossils of these fishes have been found in Germany, in the famous deposits of Solnhofen Limestone, Solnhofen. Species * ''Libys superbus'' Reis, 1888 * ''Liby ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
