Libys
Libys Temporal range: Jurassic
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Specimen of Libys at the Burgmeister Muller Museum, Solnhofen | |
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Genus: | Libys Münster, 1842
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Libys is a genus of coelacanth fish in the family of Latimeridae. Species of Libys lived during the Upper Jurassic period (Kimmeridgian - Tithonian, about 150 to 145 million years ago).
Description
[edit]Libys had an exceptionally squat body, especially when compared to other coelacanths of the same period as 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
[edit]Fossils of these fishes have been found in Germany, in the famous deposits of Solnhofen.
Species
[edit]- Libys superbus Reis, 1888
- Libys polypterus
The genus Libys was erected in 1842 by Muenster. The species Libys polypterus was then established as the type species, on the basis of fragmentary remains. A second species, L. superbus, was described on the basis of complete large specimens, but most authors treat both as one species.
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References
[edit]- Biolib
- The Paleobiology Database
- Paul H. LAMBERS A redescription of the coelacanth Macropoma willemoesii VETTER from the lithographic limestone of Solnhofen (Upper Jurassic, Bavaria)
- History of the Coelacanth Fishes by Peter L. Forey, Chapman & Hall, 1998.
- von Dr. Peter Wellnhofer Der Quastenflosser Latimeria - ein "lebendes Fossil"[permanent dead link]