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Article: A new actinopterygian from the Late Devonian Gogo Formation, Western Australia

Papers in Palaeontology - Volume 5 Issue 2 - Cover
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 5
Part: 2
Publication Date: May 2019
Page(s): 343 363
Author(s): Brian Choo, Jing Lu, Sam Giles, Kate Trinajstic, and John A. Long
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1243
Addition Information

How to Cite

CHOO, B., LU, J., GILES, S., TRINAJSTIC, K., LONG, J.A. 2019. A new actinopterygian from the Late Devonian Gogo Formation, Western Australia. Papers in Palaeontology, 5, 2, 343-363. DOI: /doi/10.1002/spp2.1243

Author Information

  • Brian Choo - College of Science & Engineering Flinders University Bedford Park Adelaide SA 5042 Australia
  • Jing Lu - Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution & Human Origins of China Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology & Paleoanthropology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100044 China
  • Jing Lu - Department of Applied Mathematics Research School of Physics & Engineering The Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
  • Sam Giles - Department of Earth Sciences University of Oxford Oxford OX1 3BD UK
  • Kate Trinajstic - School of Molecular & Life Sciences Curtin University Bentley WA 6102 Australia
  • John A. Long - College of Science & Engineering Flinders University Bedford Park Adelaide SA 5042 Australia

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 03 May 2019
  • Manuscript Accepted: 05 July 2018
  • Manuscript Received: 03 March 2018

Funded By

CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Programme for Creative Research Teams
Australian Research Council. Grant Number: DE16100247
Chinese Academy of Sciences. Grant Number: KZCX2‐YW‐156
Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China. Grant Number: 2012CB821902
National Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Number: 40930208
Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship
Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Grant Number: XDB26000000

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

The study of early actinopterygians (ray‐finned fishes) from the Devonian has been hampered by imperfect preservation in the majority of taxa. The Late Devonian (early Frasnian) Gogo Formation of north‐western Western Australia is notable in producing complete fossil actinopterygians with exceptional three‐dimensional preservation of both the dermal and endoskeletal anatomy. Four taxa have been described and have proved invaluable in understanding the anatomy of early representatives of this clade. Here, we present a fifth Gogo taxon, based on a single exceptionally preserved specimen and representing a new genus and species of early ray‐finned fish. The neurocranium was CT scanned, permitting a detailed examination of the endocast. The new taxon possesses unusual features including a greatly enlarged spiracular opening and extensive spinose ornamentation on the dermal skull bones, median ridge scutes and lepidotrichia. The endocast displays a mosaic of characters, some of which are similar to Mimipiscis and non‐actinopterygian outgroups, while other features are more akin to Raynerius from the Late Devonian of France as well as several stratigraphically younger taxa. A phylogenetic analysis resolves the new form as sister taxon to fishes from the Late Devonian of the northern hemisphere and all post‐Devonian actinopterygians, confirming that the assemblage of fossil ray fins from the Gogo Formation is part of the wider Devonian actinopterygian radiation.

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