Robustichthys Temporal range:
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Fossil specimens, (A) IVPP V18568 (holotype), (B) IVPP V20416 | |
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Reconstruction | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Clade: | Halecomorphi |
Order: | † Ionoscopiformes |
Genus: | †
Robustichthys Xu et al., 2014 |
Type species | |
†Robustichthys luopingensis Xu et al., 2014
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Robustichthys is an extinct genus of ray-finned fish from the Middle Triassic period, contains only one species R. luopingensis. [1] [2] It belonged to the clade Halecomorphi, which were once diverse during the Mesozoic Era, but which are today represented by only a single species, the bowfin. Halecomorphs are holosteans, a clade which first appeared in the fossil record during the Triassic. [3]
Robustichthys is described from Anisian Guanling Formation, Luoping, Yunnan, China. It is the oldest member of Ionoscopiformes, an order within Halecomorphi. [1] The largest specimen reaches length about 36 cm (1.18 ft), which makes it the largest holostean fish in the Middle Triassic. [2]