Gyrolepis
Extinct genus of fishes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gyrolepis is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish from the Middle-Late Triassic epochs in what is now Europe. It is known both from complete specimens and isolated skeletal elements, such as scales or teeth.
| Gyrolepis Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gyrolepis albertii fossil | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | †Palaeonisciformes |
| Family: | †Palaeoniscidae |
| Genus: | †Gyrolepis Agassiz, 1835 |
| Type species | |
| Gyrolepis albertii Agassiz, 1835 | |
| Other species | |
Taxonomy
The following species are placed in this genus:[1][2][3]
- G. agassizi (Münster, 1835) - Anisian of Germany (Muschelkalk), Ladinian of France
- G. albertii Agassiz, 1835 (type species) - Anisian of the Netherlands (Vossenveld Formation of Muschelkalk)[4], Poland (Wellenkalk Formation), late Anisian/early Ladinian of Germany (Muschelkalk), Norian of Austria (Seefelder Formation) & Belgium (Grès de Mortinsart Formation), Rhaetian of England (Westbury Formation) and France,[5] potentially Anisian of Spain (Muschelkalk)
- G. angulisulcatus Oertle, 1927 - Ladinian of Germany (Muschelkalk)
- G. ornatus Giebel in Dames, 1888 - Anisian of Germany (Muschelkalk)
- G. quenstedti Dames, 1888 - Ladinian of Germany (Muschelkalk)
- G. parcisquamosus Oertle, 1927 - Ladinian of Germany (Muschelkalk)
- G. pompeckji Oertle, 1927 - Ladinian of Germany (Muschelkalk)
- G. tenuidentatus Oertle, 1928 - late Anisian/early Ladinian of Germany (Muschelkalk)
An indeterminate species is known from the Besano Formation of Italy & Switzerland.[2] A potential species is also known from the Rhaetian of China.[1]
Distribution
Gyrolepis fossils have been found across much of the Northern Hemisphere, but the genus was by far most common in Europe.[6] G. albertii, the type species of the genus, is a ubiquitous component of Rhaetian biotas in Europe.[7]
