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Kalops monophrys is known by over 125 specimens from the Bear Gulch Limestone. K. monophrys is distinguished from its smaller sister species, Kalops diophrys, by having more caudal fin rays, a different number of supraorbital bone rows, and the development of its ganoine ridging at a larger size. The cranial osteology of Kalops most closely resembles that of the poorly known Palaeoniscus and "Elonichthys" serratus. The snout structure is closest to that of the Tarrasiiformes. Diagnosis from Poplin & Lund 2002, p. 1014: "Total length ranging from 44 to 116 mm; postrostral meeting the frontal in the midline anteriorly to mid-orbit level; ovoid antorbital; one row of supraorbitals; about five infraorbitals and five suborbitals; anterior extremity of the preopercle as high as the posterior plate of the maxillary; about 15 branchiostegal rays; one pair of extrascapulars; supracleithrum higher than opercle; from eight up to 17 predorsal median scutes, continuous between skull and dorsal fin; dorsal fin spanning 14 scale rows; anal fin with fulcra; scaled lobe of the caudal fin at 25 degrees to the body axis." Line drawing from Poplin & Lund 2002, p. 1017: Identified by oilshale using Poplin & Lung 2002. References: Poplin, C., & R. Lund (2002) "Two Carboniferous fine-eyed paleoniscoids (Pisces, Actinopterygii) from Bear Gulch (USA)." Journal of Paleontology 76: 1014-1028.

Allenypterus montanus was first described by Melton as a Dorypterid; in 1977 this fish was recognized by Lund as a Coelacanth. Taken from "Fossil Fishes of Bear Gulch" by Lund, Richard, and Grogan, E.D., 2005, Bear Gulch web site, www.sju.edu/research/bear_gulch, 1/11/2016 (last update from 2/1/2006): Allenypterus montanus is a coelacanth of relatively primitive skull osteology but with a unique, teardrop-shaped body form. They range in size from about 25 mm (1 inch) to 150 mm (6 1/4 inches) in length. Like other coelacanths, Allenypterus had a complete covering of thin, rounded, overlapping scales, and webbed fins with few, widely spaced rays. No teeth, thick lips, and a very small gape of the mouth show that this fish was a suction feeder on small prey. The body is very high relative to length. The paired fins are large with delicate webbing. The paired fins, second dorsal and anal fins are supported on long muscular lobes by segmental bony axes that are covered with fine rounded scales. There is a long, continuous dorsal lobe of the webbed caudal fin. The combination of all these fins, webs, and lobes indicates a superb maneuverer in weedy, sheltered environments but a fish that could not outswim any predator. It is noteworthy that the belly was armored, suggesting that Allenypterus may have swam and fed on and close to the bottom. The body form of Allenypterus is unique among known coelacanths — all others differ subtly only in proportions. The skull of Allenypterus is among the most primitive coelacanth skulls known. Line drawing from Lund & Lund 1985, p.242: References: Melton, W. G. 1969. A new dorypterid fish from central Montana. Northwest Science 43:196-206 Glickman W. L. 1977: Allenypterus montanus (Crossopterygii: Coelacanthiformes) from the Bear Gulch Limestone of Montana. Adelphy University, 1977. Lund, R. & Lund, W. 1984: New genera and species of coelacanths from the Bear Gulch Limestone (Lower Carboniferous) of Montana (U.S.A.) Geobios, Volume 17, issue 2, p. 237-244. Lund, R., and W.L. Lund, 1985. "Coelacanths from the Bear Gulch Limestone (Namurian) of Montana and the evolution of the Coelacanthiformes." Bull. Carnegie Mus. Nat. Hist. 25: 1-74. Lund, W. L., R. Lund and G. Klein, 1985. "Coelacanth feeding mechanisms and the ecology of the Bear Gulch coelacanths." Compte Rendu, Neuvième Congrès International de Stratigraphie et de Géologie du Carbonifère, 5: 492-500. Friedman, M. & Coates, M. 2006: A newly recognized fossil coelacanth highlights the early morphological diversification of the clade Proc. R. Soc. B (2006) 273, 245–250. Hagadorn, J.: Bear Gulch: An Exceptional Upper Carboniferous Plattenkalk

Taxonomy from Fossilworks.org. Kalops diophrys is distinguished from its larger sister species, Kalops monophrys, by fewer caudal fin rays, a different number of supraorbital bone rows, and the development of its ganoine ridging at a smaller size. The cranial osteology most closely resembles that of the poorly known Palaeoniscus and "Elonichthys" serratus. The snout structure is closest to the Tarrasiiformes. Diagnosis from Poplin & Lund 2002, p. 1020: "Total length ranging from 50 to 96 mm; in the midline, postrostral meeting the frontal at mid-orbitalevel; two rows of supraorbitals; presence of a bone, probable spiracula lateral to the dermosphenotic; dermopterotic with a spur posterolateral to the anterior extrascapular row; six infraorbitals, and about 12 suborbital bones; anterior limb of the preopercle not as high as the maxillary posterior plate; presence of a small postspiracular behind the dermohyal; opercle tall, two and a half as high as long; ten to 12 branchiostegal rays; two rows of extrascapulars: anterior one with five paired and one median ossicles, posterior one with one paired bone carrying the supratemporal commissure; supracleithrum not as high as the opercle; scales of the lateral line hexagonal; three to six predorsal scutes, not reaching the skull; pectoral fin fan shaped; dorsal fin long based, spanning about 21 scale rows; anal fin without fulcra; scaled lobe of the caudal fin at 30 degrees to the body axis." Line drawing from Poplin & Lund 2002, p. 1022: Identified by oilshale using Poplin & Lund 2002. References: Poplin, C., & R. Lund. 2002. "Two Carboniferous fine-eyed paleoniscoids (Pisces, Actinopterygii) from Bear Gulch (USA)." Journal of Paleontology 76: 1014-1028.

Lit.: MOORE, R., McKENZIE, S. and LIEBERMAN, B. (2007): A CARBONIFEROUS SYNZIPHOSURINE (XIPHOSURA) FROM THE BEAR GULCH LIMESTONE, MONTANA, USA. Palaeontology, Vol. 50, Part 4, 2007, pp. 1013–1019. Schram, F. (1979): Limulines of the Mississippian Bear Gulch limestone of central Montana, USA. Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 19:67-74 (1979)

References: Lund, R. 1982 - Harpagofututor volsellorhinus new genus and species (Chondrichthyes, Chondrenchelyiformes) from the Namurian Bear Gulch Limestone, Chondrenchelys problematica Traquair (Visean), and their sexual dimorphism. Journal of Paleontology, 56 (4): 938-958. Lund, R. & Grogan, E.D. 1997 - Soft tissue pigments of the Upper Mississippian chondrenchelyid, Harpagofututor volsellorhinus (Chondrichthyes, Holocephali) from the Bear Gulch Limestone, Montana, USA. Journal of Paleontology, 71 (2): 337-342.

Paraconularia subulata (Hall 1858) together with Aviculopecten sp., a bivalve mollusc. References: Babcock, L. E., and R. M. Feldmann (1986): Devonian and Mississippian conulariids of North America. part B. Paraconularia, Reticulaconularia, New Genus, and organisms rejected from Conulariida. Annals of Carnegie Museum 55: 411-479.

Taxonomy from Factor & Feldman 1985. Diagnosis from Factor & Feldman 1985 p. 339: "Malacostracan with thinly sclerotized carapace; prominent anteriorly directed mid-dorsal spine; antero-dorsal and antero-ventral spines present. Ventral margins of abdominal pleura triangular, smooth. Third abdominal segment with strong dorsal flexure." Line drawing from Factor & Feldman 1985, p. 342: Bar represents 1 cm. Identified by oilshale References: Schram, F., Horner, J. (1979) Crustacea of the Mississippian Bear Gulch Limestone of Central Montana. Journal of Paleontology Vol. 52, No. 2 (Mar., 1978), pp. 394-406. Factor D. F. and Feldmann R. M. (1985): Systematics and Paleoecology of Malacostracan Arthropods in the Bear Gulch Limestone (Namurian) of central Montana. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 54, 319-356. Jenner, R. A., Hof, C. and Schram, F. R. (1998): Palaeo- and archaeostomatopods (Hoplocarida, Crustacea) from the Bear Gulch Limestone, Mississippian (Namurian), of central Montana. Contributions to Zoology 67 (3) 155-185.

Taxonomy from Fossilworks.org. Diagnosis from Factor & Feldman 1985 p.344: “Eumalacostracan, shrimp-like in overall appearance, with large, smooth carapace; rostrum long; 8 pairs of long, subequal, achelate thoracopods.” Line drawing from Factor & Feldman 1985, p 345. Bar represents 1 cm. Identified by oilshale. References: Schram, F. R. and Horner J. (1978): Crustacea of the Mississippian Bear Gulch Limestone of Central Montana. Journal of Paleontology 52(2):394-406. Factor D. F. and Feldmann R. M. (1985): Systematics and Paleoecology of Malacostracan Arthropods in the Bear Gulch Limestone (Namurian) of central Montana. Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 54, 319-356. Jenner, R. A., Hof, C. and Schram, F. R. (1998): Palaeo- and archaeostomatopods (Hoplocarida, Crustacea) from the Bear Gulch Limestone, Mississippian (Namurian), of central Montana. Contributions to Zoology 67 (3) 155-185.

This fish belongs to the Tarrasiids, a group of extinct bony fish with elongated body and a diphycercal caudal fin that was continuous with the dorsal and anal fins. The continuous dorsal-caudal-anal fin is well webbed between the fin rays. Fish with this fin disposition today are slow weak swimmers that move either forward or backward, by body undulation, median fin undulation or pectoral paddling. Fish such as these are shelter dwellers in geometrically complex shallow water environments, such as weed or sponge beds. No valid description seems to exist. For Apholidotos ossna Lund, the reference given is "in Frickhinger, 1991". Another name - Apholidotus ossuosus Lund - is used by UMPC (University of Montana Paleontology Center) in their catalog. In his own much later publications (e.g. in 1999), Lund himself in not using any of these combinations, he is only using the nickname "Garden Eel".