Australosomus

Australosomus; Temporal range: Early Triassic PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Australosomus merlei
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Infraphylum:	Gnathostomata
Superclass:	Osteichthyes
Class:	Actinopterygii
(unranked):	Actinopteri
Subclass:	Chondrostei
Order:	Pholidopleuriformes
Family:	Pholidopleuridae
Genus:	Australosomus; Pivetau, 1930
Species
	A. altisquamosus; A. kochi; A. longirostris; A. merlei; A. pholidopleuroides; A. simplex;

Australosomus is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish that lived during the Early Triassic epoch.^[1]

The interlocking scales (3 to 4 times long as wide), deeply forked caudal fin all help to distinguish this genus, which is known from Triassic rocks in Greenland, Africa, Madagascar, British Columbia and Vancouver.^[2]

Australosomus is one of many genera to arise after the Permian extinction, only to die out during the Triassic extinction.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
^ ^a ^b Ludvigsen, Rolf & Beard, Graham. 1997. West Coast Fossils: A Guide to the Ancient Life of Vancouver Island. pg. 78-79

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