Prehistoric lobe-finned fish genera

Ichthyostega, from Ancient Greek ἰχθύς (ikthús), meaning "fish", and στέγη (stégē), meaning "roof", is an extinct genus of limbed tetrapodomorphs from the Late Devonian of what is now Greenland. It was among the earliest four-limbed vertebrates ever in the fossil record and was one of the first with weight-bearing adaptations for terrestrial locomotion. Ichthyostega possessed lungs and limbs that helped it navigate through shallow water in swamps. Although Ichthyostega is often labelled a 'tetrapod' because of its limbs and fingers, it evolved long before true crown group tetrapods and could m

Tiktaalik (; ) is a monospecific genus of extinct sarcopterygian (lobe-finned fish) from the late Devonian Period, about 375 Mya (million years ago), having many features similar to those of tetrapods (four-legged animals). Tiktaalik is estimated to have had a total length of on the basis of various specimens.

Eusthenopteron (from 'stout', and 'wing' or 'fin') is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine lobe-finned fish known from several species that lived during the Late Devonian period, about 385 million years ago. It has attained an iconic status from its close relationship to tetrapods. Early depictions of animals of this genus show them emerging onto land, but paleontologists now think that Eusthenopteron species were strictly aquatic animals, though this is not completely known.

Hynerpeton ( ) is an extinct genus of early four-limbed vertebrate that lived in the rivers and ponds of Pennsylvania during the Late Devonian period, around 365 to 363 million years ago. The only known species of Hynerpeton is H. bassetti, named after the describer's grandfather, city planner Edward Bassett. Hynerpeton is known for being the first Devonian four-limbed vertebrate discovered in the United States, as well as possibly being one of the first to have lost internal (fish-like) gills.

Panderichthys is a genus of extinct sarcopterygian (lobe-finned fish) from the late Devonian period, about 380 Mya. Panderichthys, which was recovered from Frasnian (early Late Devonian) deposits in Latvia, is represented by two species. P. stolbovi is known only from some snout fragments and an incomplete lower jaw. P. rhombolepis is known from several more complete specimens. Although it probably belongs to a sister group of the earliest tetrapods, Panderichthys exhibits a range of features transitional between tristichopterid lobe-fin fishes (e.g., Eusthenopteron) and early tetrapods. It is

Osteolepis (from 'bone' and 'scale') is an extinct genus of lobe-finned fish from the Devonian period. It lived in Lake Orcadie of northern Scotland.

genus of fishes (fossil)

Rhizodus ("root tooth") is an extinct genus of basal, finned tetrapodomorphs (the group of sarcopterygians that contains modern tetrapods and their extinct relatives). It belonged to Rhizodontida, one of the earliest-diverging tetrapodomorph clades. Two valid species have been described, both of which lived during the Early Carboniferous epoch. The type species R. hibberti is known from the Viséan stage of the United Kingdom, whereas the species R. serpukhovensis is from the Serpukhovian of Russia. Some fossils referred to the genus Rhizodus have also been found in North America.

Hyneria is a genus of large prehistoric predatory lobe-finned fish which lived in fresh water during the Famennian stage of the Devonian period.

Elginerpeton is a genus of stegocephalian (stem-tetrapod), the fossils of which were recovered from Scat Craig, Morayshire in the UK, from rocks dating to the late Devonian Period (Late Frasnian stage, 375 million years ago). The type species is Elginerpeton pancheni.

Tulerpeton is an extinct genus of Devonian four-limbed vertebrate, known from a fossil that was found in the Tula Region of Russia at a site named Andreyevka. This genus, Acanthostega, and Ichthyostega represent the earliest tetrapods.

Ventastega (Venta referring to the Venta River at the Ketleri Formation where Ventastega was discovered) is an extinct genus of stem tetrapod that lived during the Upper Fammenian of the Late Devonian, approximately 372.2 to 358.9 million years ago. Only one species is known that belongs in the genus, Ventastega curonica, which was described in 1996 after fossils were discovered in 1933 and mistakenly associated with a fish called Polyplocodus wenjukovi. ‘Curonica’ in the species name refers to Curonia, the Latin name for Kurzeme, a region in western Latvia. Ventastega curonica was discovered

Macropoma (from Greek μακρός "large" + πόμα "cover", after its large operculum) is an extinct genus of coelacanth in the class Sarcopterygii. Fossils of Macropoma have been found in both England and Czech Republic, dating to the mid-Cretaceous (Albian-Turonian). Recorded fossils have bodies under two feet in length. A modern coelacanth measures five or more, but in other respects the two genera are remarkably similar, and share the same body plan with a three-lobed tail and stalked fins.

Gogonasus (meaning "snout from Gogo") was a lobe-finned fish known from three-dimensionally preserved 380-million-year-old fossils found from the Gogo Formation in Western Australia. It lived in the Late Devonian period, on what was once a coral reef off the Kimberley coast surrounding north-western Australia. Gogonasus was a small fish reaching in length.

Onychodus (, from Greek meaning "claw-tooth") is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which lived during the Devonian Period (Eifelian - Famennian stages, around 374 to 397 million years ago). It is one of the best known of the group of onychodontiform fishes. Scattered fossil teeth of Onychodus were first described from Ohio in 1857 by John Strong Newberry. Other species were found in Australia, England, Norway and Germany showing that it had a widespread range.

Parmastega is an extinct genus of stem tetrapod from the Devonian, dated to the earliest Famennian age (about 372 million years ago), in contrast to later fossils known from late Famennian (365–359 million years ago). These later fossils are considerably younger, by about 30 million years, than the earliest recorded tetrapod footprints, which presented a mystery that Parmastega's more recently described morphology from a three dimensional reconstruction has helped provide insight on.

Coelacanthus, from Ancient Greek κοῖλος (koîlos), meaning "hollow", and ἄκανθα (ákantha), meaning "spine", is a genus of extinct marine coelacanths known from the late Permian period. It was the first genus of coelacanths described, about a century before the discovery of the extant coelacanth Latimeria. The order Coelacanthiformes is named after it.

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genus of fishes

thumb|left|Early Triassic and [[Middle Triassic marine predators: 4. Rebellatrix]]

Libys is a genus of coelacanth fish in the family of Latimeriidae. Species of Libys lived during the Lower-Upper Jurassic period (Toarcian - Tithonian, about 183 to 145 million years ago).

Strunius is an extinct genus of lobe-finned fish from the Late Devonian period of Germany and Latvia. The genus contains two named species, S. rolandi and S. walteri, as well as a third unnamed species from the Lode Quarry of Latvia.

Platycephalichthys is a genus of tristichopterid lobe-finned fish which lived during the Upper Devonian, Frasnian stage. thumb|left|Restoration

Metaxygnathus is an extinct genus of ichthyostegalian found in Late Devonian deposits of New South Wales, Australia. It is known only from a lower jawbone. Previously thought to be a lobe-finned fish, it has now been reassigned to the earliest group of tetrapodomorphs.

genus of tetrapodomorphs (fossil)

Axelrodichthys is an extinct genus of mawsoniid coelacanth from the Cretaceous of Africa, North and South America, and Europe. Several species are known, the remains of which were discovered in the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) of Brazil, North Africa, and possibly Mexico, as well as in the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco (Cenomanian), Madagascar (Coniacian –Santonian) and France (Lower Campanian to Lower Maastrichtian). The Axelrodichthys of the Lower Cretaceous frequented both brackish and coastal marine waters (lagoon-coastal environment) while the most recent species lived exclusively in fr

genus of fishes

Tungsenia is an extinct genus of lobe-finned fish known from the early Devonian Posongchong Formation of Yunnan, South China. It is the earliest and most basal tetrapodomorph known, having a mixture of traits of tetrapodomorphs and basal dipnomorphs. This not only is present in the skull itself but also in the brain which has features much more similar to dipnomorphs than to other early tetrapodomorphs. Due to this, along with a more derived mandible, it is likely that the jaw of tetrapodomorphs evolved earlier than other parts of the head. There is only one species of the genus known; T. para

Eusthenodon (Greek for "strong-tooth" – eusthenes- meaning "strong", -odon meaning "tooth") is an extinct genus of marine tristichopterid tetrapodomorphs from the Late Devonian period, ranging between 365 and 359 million years ago (Late Famennian). They are well known for being a cosmopolitan genus with remains being recovered from East Greenland, Australia, Central Russia, USA (Pennsylvania), and Belgium. Compared to the other closely related genera of the Tristichopteridae clade, Eusthenodon was one of the largest lobe-finned fishes (approximately 2.5 meters in length) and among the most der

thumb| Edenopteron is a genus of large tristichopterid fish from the Late Devonian (Famennian) of what is now southeastern Australia. It is known from a single specimen of a single species, E. keithcrooki, described in 2013.

Ymeria is an extinct genus of early stem tetrapod from the Devonian of Greenland. Of the two other genera of stem tetrapods from Greenland, Acanthostega and Ichthyostega, Ymeria is most closely related to Ichthyostega, though the single known specimen is smaller, the skull about 10 cm in length. A single interclavicle resembles that of Ichthyostega, an indication Ymeria may have resembled this genus in the post-cranial skeleton.

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. 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.

Laccognathus is an extinct genus of amphibious lobe-finned fish from Europe and North America. They existed from the Middle Devonian to the Late Devonian (around 397.5 to 360 mya). The name comes from Greek for 'pitted jaw'.

Whiteia is an extinct genus of prehistoric coelacanth fish which lived during the Triassic period. It is named after Errol White.

Gooloogongia ( ) is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which belonged to the group of rhizodont fishes. Gooloogongia lived during the Late Devonian period (Famennian stage, about 360 million years ago). Fossils have been found in the Canowindra site, (Australia). It was named by Zerina Johanson and Per Ahlberg in 1998. In general size and shape Gooloogongia is similar to the modern saratoga which lives in the tropical rivers of northern Australia.

Gyroptychius is an extinct genus of tetrapodomorphs from the Devonian period.

Diplurus is a genus of prehistoric mawsoniid coelacanth fish which lived during the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic period in North America. The fossils of this genus are common on the eastern North American Margin, being a key taxon of the Newark Supergroup, and recovered from units such as the Bull Run Formation (Norian, Virginia), Lockatong Formation (Norian, Pennsylvania), Stockton Formation (Norian, New Jersey), Solite Quarry (Norian, North Carolina-Virginia), Midland Formation (Hettangian, Virginia), East Berlin Formation (Hettangian, Connecticut), Boonton Formation (Sinemurian, New Jersey)

Chinlea is an extinct genus of late Triassic Mawsoniid coelacanth fish found in and named after the Chinle Formation that crops out in the southwestern states of Arizona and New Mexico.  The word “Chinle” comes from the Navajo word meaning "flowing out", referencing the location where water flows out of the Canyon de Chelly. They were also possibly found in the Dockum Group.

Holophagus is an extinct genus of coelacanth belonging to Latimeriidae. The type species, Holophagus gulo, is known from the Lower Jurassic marine Lias of England. Some authors have considered the genus restricted to the Lias of England.

Sinostega ("Chinese roof") is an extinct genus of early "tetrapod" from the Late Devonian of China.

Barameda (Indigenous Australian language: "fish trap") is a genus of rhizodont lobe-finned fishes which lived during the Tournaisian stage near the start of the Carboniferous period in Australia; fossils of the genus have been reported from the Snowy Plains Formation. The largest member of this genus, Barameda decipiens, reached an estimated length of around , while the smallest species, B. mitchelli is estimated to have had a length of about .

Densignathus is an extinct genus of early stem-tetrapod from the Late Devonian-aged Catskill Formation of Pennsylvania in the United States. A lower jaw has been found from the Red Hill fossil site, which is known for a diversity of lobe-finned fishes and other early tetrapods like Hynerpeton. The type species, Densignathus rowei, was named in honor of paleontologist Norman Douglas Rowe in 2000.

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.

Megalichthys is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which lived during the Devonian and Carboniferous periods. It is the type genus of the family Megalichthyidae. The type species is M. hibberti. The species M. mullisoni, named for fossil preparator C Frederick Mullison, is known from the Catskill Formation of Pennsylvania.

Trachymetopon is an extinct genus of prehistoric coelacanth from the Jurassic of Europe. Fossils have been found in the Early Jurassic Posidonia Shale of Germany the Middle Jurassic Marnes de Dives of France, and probably the Late Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay of England. Only one species has been named, Trachymetopon liassicum, described by Henning in 1951 from an almost complete specimen found in the Lower Toarcian of Ohmden in Baden-Württemberg. Another specimen is known from the same site, and two older specimens come from the Sinemurian of Holzmaden. The holotype of this species is in length.

Megamastax (meaning "big mouth") is a genus of lobe-finned fish which lived during the late Silurian period, about 423 million years ago, in China. Before the discovery of Megamastax, it was thought that jawed vertebrates (gnathostomes) were limited in size and variation before the Devonian period. Megamastax is known only from jaw bones and it is estimated that it reached about long.

Obruchevichthys is an extinct genus of stem-tetrapod from Latvia during the Late Devonian. When the jawbone, the only known fossil of this creature, was uncovered in Latvia, it was mistaken as a lobe-fin fish. However, when it was analyzed, it proved to hold many similarities to Elginerpeton, from Scotland. It was then declared belonging to the earliest group of tetrapods.

Thursius is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish.

Elpistostege is an extinct genus of finned tetrapodomorphs that lived during the Frasnian age of the Late Devonian epoch. Its only known species, E. watsoni, was first described in 1938 by the British palaeontologist Thomas Stanley Westoll, based on a single partial skull roof discovered at the Escuminac Formation in Quebec, Canada.

thumb|left|Marine life of the Early Triassic|Early and early [[Middle Triassic: Ticinepomis (13)]] Ticinepomis is an extinct genus of coelacanth lobe-finned fish which lived during the Middle Triassic period in what is now Switzerland. It contains two species, T. peyeri and T. ducanensis.

Metaceratodus is an extinct genus of prehistoric lungfish in the family Ceratodontidae, with an indeterminate specimen known from the Late Triassic (Norian)-aged Lissauer Breccia of Poland and more complete specimens known from the Late Cretaceous of Queensland, Australia and Argentina (Malargue Group). The genus was named and described by Frederick Chapman in 1914.

Tristichopterus is an extinct genus of Devonian eotetrapodiform fish in the family Tristichopteridae. The type species, T. elatus, was first described by Philip Grey Egerton in 1861 from remains of Givetian age found in Scotland. In 2013, a second species, Eusthenopteron kurshi was attributed to the genus based on remains from Latvia, originally assigned to Eusthenopteron, but this has not been universally recognised, With a maximum length of sixty centimetres, is the smallest genus in the family. Tristichopterus was thought by Egerton to be unique for its time period as a fish with ossified v

Livoniana is a genus of prehistoric tetrapodomorphs which lived during the Devonian period (Givetian - Frasnian stages, about 374 to 391 million years ago).

Cabonnichthys ("Burns' Cabonne fish") is an extinct genus of tristichopterid fish that lived in the Late Devonian period (Famennian) of Australia. It has been found in Canowindra and is a medium-sized carnivorous lobe-finned fish.

Jakubsonia is an extinct genus of early tetrapod from the Late Devonian of Russia. The type species, Jakubsonia livnensis, was described and named in 2004.

Swenzia is an extinct genus of coelacanthid fish from the late Jurassic of France. It contains a single species, S. latimerae, which was originally described as Wenzia latimerae. Because the generic name Wenzia was already preoccupied by a snail, the generic name was amended to Swenzia. It is the fossil genus most closely related to the living coelacanth, Latimeria.

Qingmenodus is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish. Fossils of Qingmenodus were found in China and date back to the Early Devonian period. Qingmenodus reveals the first well-ossified otoccipital braincase in onychodonts. Palaeontologists believe that Qingmenodus was one of the oldest onychodont fish.

Strepsodus is a genus of rhizodont lobe-finned fish that lived throughout the Carboniferous period. Fossils have been found in eastern Canada, Britain (England and Scotland), and Queensland, Australia; indeterminate species of Strepsodus have also been found in the late Devonian deposits of Turkey, Iran and Colombia. A large individual is measured up to long.

Mandageria fairfaxi (Pronunciation: Man-daj-ee-ree-a fair-fax-i) is an extinct lobe-finned fish that lived during the Late Devonian period (Frasnian – Famennian). It is related to the much larger Hyneria; although Mandageria was smaller, likely hunted in a similar manner.

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