New fossil fish Teffichthys madagascariensis

[Halichoeres]

Formerly referred to Perleidus, this really nice actinopterygian fossil from the early Triassic of Madagascar is removed from the Perleidiformes entirely and given a new genus: Teffichthys (T.E.F.F.=Triassic Early Fish Fauna, and "-ichthys" redundantly means "fish").

Paper (open access at least in the United States): http://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/8328

[Ravonium]

For how ancient this fish is, the scales are relatively well preserved.

[Halichoeres]

For how ancient this fish is, the scales are relatively well preserved.

That's because early actinopterygians had a lot of dentine in their scales, so they preserve just as well as teeth! Fish are the best, is what I'm saying 

[Ravonium]

That's because early actinopterygians had a lot of dentine in their scales, so they preserve just as well as teeth! Fish are the best, is what I'm saying 

It is impossible to say that any other group is better than fish, since they are all technically fish. 

[Halichoeres]

That's because early actinopterygians had a lot of dentine in their scales, so they preserve just as well as teeth! Fish are the best, is what I'm saying 

It is impossible to say that any other group is better than fish, since they are all technically fish. 

Only the vertebrates! And only in the strictest technical sense (I'm okay with colloquial paraphyly, personally). And if I'm being really honest with myself, arthropods are probably cooler than vertebrates.

[Jose S.M.]

I've always noticed how great fishes are preserved but never gave deep thoughts about it. And fishes and arthropods are the coolest for me. Also cephalopods are in top 3 groups.

[Ravonium]

Only the vertebrates! And only in the strictest technical sense (I'm okay with colloquial paraphyly, personally). And if I'm being really honest with myself, arthropods are probably cooler than vertebrates.

I agree. Not only that, but arthropods are the most sucessful group of animals in the world.

[Hynerpeton]

Great and cool looking fossil.

[SBell]

For how ancient this fish is, the scales are relatively well preserved.

That's because early actinopterygians had a lot of dentine in their scales, so they preserve just as well as teeth! Fish are the best, is what I'm saying 

You should have stopped there...arthropods are just food for the fish!

Sometimes...

[ZoPteryx]

Very neat fossil!  I've always found it interesting how well armored these early actinopterygians were.  I suppose it's a retained ancestral trait, but I can't help but wonder if it was really necessary for them, were there really that many more predators in Triassic swamps and coastlines.

[BlueKrono]

Very neat fossil!  I've always found it interesting how well armored these early actinopterygians were.  I suppose it's a retained ancestral trait, but I can't help but wonder if it was really necessary for them, were there really that many more predators in Triassic swamps and coastlines.

I wonder why modern coelacanths retained them too. Many predators that deep?

[Hynerpeton]

Maybe a toy will be made. We can  hope.

[Halichoeres]

Very neat fossil!  I've always found it interesting how well armored these early actinopterygians were.  I suppose it's a retained ancestral trait, but I can't help but wonder if it was really necessary for them, were there really that many more predators in Triassic swamps and coastlines.

I wonder why modern coelacanths retained them too. Many predators that deep?

I don't know for sure, but I suppose the way I imagine it is more like, teleosts evolved ways to manufacture offspring cheaper, but in much greater quantities. At the upper extreme, ocean sunfish and cod can release literally millions of eggs per female, which isn't really seen in lungfish, coelacanths, bichirs, holosteans, or, for that matter, sturgeons. The current dominance of teleosts might suggest that it was a pretty good trade. Sure, you're more likely to die in some predator's mouth, but you have hundreds of siblings still swimming around.

Maybe a toy will be made. We can  hope.

I hope that for nearly every new fossil fish that is described! I think all the major companies would have to devote themselves to fish for five years straight to catch up with all the dinosaurs.

[ZoPteryx]

Very neat fossil!  I've always found it interesting how well armored these early actinopterygians were.  I suppose it's a retained ancestral trait, but I can't help but wonder if it was really necessary for them, were there really that many more predators in Triassic swamps and coastlines.

I wonder why modern coelacanths retained them too. Many predators that deep?

I don't know for sure, but I suppose the way I imagine it is more like, teleosts evolved ways to manufacture offspring cheaper, but in much greater quantities. At the upper extreme, ocean sunfish and cod can release literally millions of eggs per female, which isn't really seen in lungfish, coelacanths, bichirs, holosteans, or, for that matter, sturgeons. The current dominance of teleosts might suggest that it was a pretty good trade. Sure, you're more likely to die in some predator's mouth, but you have hundreds of siblings still swimming around.

Interesting, I'd never thought about within a reproductive context.  Perhaps these early actinops had a similarly low reproductive rate.