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Rhinodipterus

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Rhinodipterus
Scientific classification
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Rhinodipterus

Rhinodipterus is an extinct genus of prehistoric dipnoan sarcopterygian or lobe-finned fish, that lived in the Devonian Period, between 416 and 359 million years ago. It is believed to have inhabited shallow, salt-water reefs,[1] and is one of the earliest known examples of marine lungfish. Research published in 2010 based on an exceptionally well-preserved specimen from the Gogo Formation of Australia[2] has shown that Rhinodipterus has cranial ribs attached to its braincase and was probably adapted for air-breathing to some degree. This could be the only case known for a marine lungfish with air-breathing adpatations. [3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "375 million year old fossil found". 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  2. ^ Long & Trinajstic 2010
  3. ^ "Air-breathing adaptation in a marine Devonian lungfish". 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
    • Clement, A. & Long, J.A. 2010. Air-breathing adaptation in a marine Devonian lungfish. Biology Letters 6: 509-512.
    • Long, J.A. & Trinajstic, K. 2010. The Late Devonian Gogo Formation Lagerstatte –Exceptional preservation and Diversity in early Vertrebrates. Annual Reviews of Earth and Planetary Sciences 38: 665-680

http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/6/4/509.full