Australosomus merlei Piveteau, 1934

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopteri Cope 1871
Order: Pholidopleuriformes Berg 1937
Family: Pholidopleuridae Wade 1932
Genus: Australosomus
Species: Australosomus merlei
Author Citation PIVETEAU, 1934

Geological Time Scale

Eon: Phanerozoic
Era: Mesozoic
Period: Triassic
Sub Period: None
Epoch: Early
International Age: Dienerian

Stratigraphy

Beaufort Group
Sakamena Formation

Biostratigraphy

Lystrosaurus and Cynognathus Zone
Fish and Ammonite Horizon

Provenance

Acquired by: Purchase/Trade

Dimensions

Length: 12.5 cm

Location

Ambilobe
Antsiranana Province
Diana Region
Madagascar

• ambilobe
• australosomus
• madagascar
• tff-oilshale-ch344
• triassic

Comments

Small to medium size fish (~ 10 to 15cm / 4 to 6"), fusiform body, relatively small head with a slightly rounded snout. Its dorsal fin is located in the posterior fourth of the body. Caudal fin divided with wide lobes. Scales on the flanks are noticeably stalk-shaped.

 

 

References:
Pivetau, J. (1934) Paléontologie de Madagascar, XXI. Les poissons du Trias inférieur. Contribution a l’etude des Actinopterygiens. Ann Paleont., 23: 81-180; Paris.
Lehmann, J.-P. (1952) Étude complémentaire des poissons de l’Eotrias de Madagascar. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskaps-akademiens Hangdlingar (4), 2 (6): 1-201; Stockholm.