Palaeoniscum

Pay-lay-o-niss-cum.
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John Stewart

Paleoecologist

John Stewart is a distinguished paleoecologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. With over two decades dedicated to unearthing fossils across Asia and Africa

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Name

Palaeoniscum.

Phonetic

Pay-lay-o-niss-cum.

Named By

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Osteichthyes,‭ ‬Actinopterygii,‭ ‬Palaeonisciformes.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

P.freieslebeni‭

Size

About‭ ‬30‭ ‬centimetres long.

Known locations

England‭ ‬-‭ ‬Raisby Formation,‭ ‬and Germany‭ ‬-‭ ‬Kupferschiefer Formation.

Time Period

Wuchiapingian of the Permian.

Fossil representation

Many individuals.

In Depth

       Palaeoniscum was a predatory fish from the late Permian.‭ ‬The genus displays the continuing trend towards faster swimming for a more active predatory lifestyle.‭ ‬Palaeoniscum still had however air sacs on the underside of its jaw which could be inflated at will.‭ ‬These would have acted like rudimentary‭ ‬swim bladders for controlling buoyancy and depth.

Further Reading

– On the remains of fish and plants from the upper limestone of the Permian series of Durham. – The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Third Series 9:267-269. – J. W. Kirby – 1862.

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