Ptycholepis

Ptycholepis; Temporal range: Middle Triassic–Early Jurassic PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Ptycholepis bollensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	†Ptycholepiformes
Family:	†
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 (= Boreosomidae/Chungkingichthyidae). Other genera of this family are (Spitsbergen, Early Triassic), Ardoreosomus (Nevada, United States; Early Triassic), Boreosomus (global, Early Triassic), (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.

Ptycholepis bollensis
Ptycholepis bollensis
Ptycholepis sp.

References[]

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