Saurichthys madagascariensis Piveteau, 1945

Taxonomy

Lizard fish

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopteri Cope 1871
Order: Saurichthyiformes
Family: Saurichthyidae Owen, 1860 (sensu Stensio, 1925)
Genus: Saurichthys
Species: Saurichthys madagascariensis
Author Citation Piveteau, 1945

Geological Time Scale

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

Stratigraphy

Beaufort Group
Middle Sakamena Formation

Biostratigraphy

Lystrosaurus and Cynognathus Zone
Fish and Ammonite Horizon

Provenance

Acquired by: Purchase/Trade

Location

Ankitokazo
Antsiranana Province
Diana Region
Madagascar

• madagascar
• sakamena formation
• saurichthys
• triassic

Comments

Taxonomy from Kogan & Romano 2016.

Diagnosis from Kogan & Romano 2016, p. (e1151886-5): "Medium-sized saurichththyid (sensu Tintori, 2013) of at least 60 cm total length (MNHN.F MAE 2524, FG 1/2013, PIMUZ A/I 4144); extensive scale cover with high mid-lateral scales, broad mid-dorsal and mid-ventral scales, and numerous smaller rhombic scales present in dorsolateral and ventrolateral positions; one ventrolateral row of specialized, enlarged scales that are shaped like a tilted ‘L’; all fins with fringing fulcra of Pattern C (sensu Arratia, 2009), and with segmented, distally branched lepidotrichia; operculum long and subtriangular; antoperculum present; one pair of branchiostegal rays; suborbital bone developed; circumorbital series including a well-developed supraorbital, a dermosphenotic, and at least one posterior infraorbital bone; surangular very narrow and anteriorly reaching the level of the center of the orbit; elongate postorbital portion of the cranium, skull (including operculum) measuring about 27% of the total body length."

 

References:
Pivetau, J. (1944-45): Paléontologie de Madagascar, XXV. Les poissons du Trias inférieur. La famille des Saurichthyidés. Ann. Paléont., 31: 79-87.
Rieppel, O. (1980): Additional specimens of Saurichthys madagascariensis from the Eotrias of Madagascar. N.Jb. Geol. Paläont. Mh., 1980 (1): 43-51.

Beltan, L. (1996): Overview of systematics, paleobiology and paleoecology of Triassic fishes of northwestern Madagascar. In: Mesozoic Fishes - Systematics and Paleoecology, 1996, pp. 479-500. ISBN3-923871-90-2.
Kogan, I. und Romano, C. (2016): Redescription of Saurichthys madagascariensis Piveteau, 1945 (Actinopterygii, Early Triassic), with implications for the early saurichthyid morphotype. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2016 DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2016.1151886