Dipterus
| Dipterus Temporal range: Devonian,
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|---|---|
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| Dipterus valenciennesi | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Sarcopterygii |
| Class: | Dipnoi |
| Family: | †Dipteridae |
| Genus: | †Dipterus Sedgwick & Murchison, 1828 |
| Type species | |
| Dipterus valenciennesi Sedgwick & Murchison, 1828
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| Other species[1] | |
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Dipterus (meaning 'two wings') is an extinct genus of lungfish from the middle Devonian period of Europe and North America.
In most respects, Dipterus, which was about 35 centimetres (14 in) long, closely resembled modern lungfish. Like its ancestor Dipnorhynchus, it had tooth-like plates on its palate instead of real teeth. However, unlike its modern relatives, in which the dorsal, caudal, and anal fin are fused into one, Dipterus's fins were still separated.[2] It mostly ate invertebrates[citation needed], and had lungs, not an air bladder. These were more developed in Dipterus and are still seen in modern-day lungfish.
The genus was established by Adam Sedgwick & Roderick Murchison in the year 1828.
References
- ^ http://fossilworks.org/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=34888
- ^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 45. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
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