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Cited by 24Paleontology and Evolutionary BiologyFish Biology and Ecology StudiesEvolution and Paleontology Studies

‘This strange little palaeoniscid': a new early actinopterygian genus, and commentary on pectoral fin conditions and function

COATES, Michael I., TIETJEN, Kristen·2018·Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
DOI 10.1017/s1755691018000403
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Abstract

The early actinopterygian Mesopoma planti is reassigned to a new genus on the basis of data obtained from high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans of an unusually well-preserved specimen from the Early Pennsylvanian of Lancashire, UK. The former M. planti is joined by two further Mesopoma species from the Late Mississippian of Scotland. CT scans of the key planti specimen bring to light new details of the dermal skull, pectoral girdle and fin. Among the cranial features, CT data reveal a specialised, anteriorly projecting preopercular bone, the location of the spiracular duct opening, presence of a so-called coronoid process on the lower jaw and the full three-dimensional shape of the snout. Of the pectoral girdle and fin, for the first time in a Palaeozoic actinopterygian it has been possible to complete a three-dimensional reconstruction of the entire endoskeleton in articulation. The fin presents new diversity within a conservative general pattern, revealing for the first time a double propterygium. Girdle shape shows that the fin orientation is derived: rotated with the leading edge dorsalmost. These details are used to identify unexploited character states for use in phylogenetic analyses, while functional implications of the fin and girdle suggest advanced locomotory control emerging among different groups of post-Devonian ray-finned fishes.

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  • This functional relation between dermal rays and the endoskeleton is distinct from that of teleost paired fins, where distal radials act as pivot points on which hemitrichia flex and extend to precisely modulate the stiffness, curvature, and area of the fin web.

    “This functional relation between dermal rays and the endoskeleton is distinct from that of teleost paired fins, where distal radials act as pivot points on which hemitrichia flex and extend to precisely modulate the stiffness, curvature, and area of the fin web (58, 59).”

    From Fin ray patterns at the fin-to-limb transition (2020) · cites this paper as [59]

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Authors
COATES, M. I., & TIETJEN, K.
ORCID
Venue
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
2018-03
Volume
109
Issue
1-2
Pages
15-31
ISSN
  • 0263-5933 (ISSN-L)
  • 1755-6910
  • 1755-6929
DOI
10.1017/s1755691018000403
OpenAlex
W2900354493
Cited by
24
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2
FWCI
1.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 251 d)
Locations
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Keywords
new genus, Actinopterygii, pectoral fin, shoulder girdle, propterygium, fin orientation, locomotion, phylogenetic characters, Early Pennsylvanian, Mississippian, Lancashire, Scotland

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