Barameda

Barameda Temporal range: Tournasian ~355  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Life restoration
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Sarcopterygii
Clade:	Tetrapodomorpha
Class:	† Rhizodontida
Order:	† Rhizodontiformes
Family:	† Rhizodontidae
Genus:	† Barameda Long, 1989
Species
†B. decipiens †B. mitchelli

Barameda (Indigenous Australian language: "fish trap" ^[1] ) is a genus of rhizodont lobe-finned fishes which lived during the Tournaisian stage near the start of the Carboniferous period in Australia; fossils of the genus have been reported from the Snowy Plains Formation. ^[2] The largest member of this genus, Barameda decipiens, reached an estimated length of around 3–4 metres (9.8–13.1 ft), ^[3] while the smallest species, B. mitchelli is estimated to have had a length of about 35 centimetres (14 in). ^[4]

Description

Species of the genus Barameda had an extremely elongated and thick body typical of Carboniferous rhizodonts. It was covered with moderately thin, cycloidal scales, ^[1] with thick bony plates covering its head and operculum (gill flaps), a tightly fused Skull roof, and extremely prominent, sharp fangs, devoid of serrations or cutting edges. Its scales preserved a lateral line. ^[2] Originally it was estimated to have a typical narrow pectoral fin, however a later study shows that it had a wider pectoral fin like other Carboniferous rhizodonts. ^[5]

Paleoecology

Along with other rhizodonts, Barameda seems likely to have been a benthic ambush predator, and its pectoral fins support that interpretation. ^[5]

References

1. Long, John A. (1989-03-30). "A new rhizodontiform fish from the Early Carboniferous of Victoria, Australia, with remarks on the phylogenetic position of the group" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 9 (1): 1–17. Bibcode:1989JVPal...9....1L. doi:10.1080/02724634.1989.10011735. ISSN   0272-4634.
2. Holland, Timothy; Warren, Anne; Johanson, Zerina; Long, John; Parker, Katherine; Garvey, Jillian (2007-06-12). "A new species of Barameda (Rhizodontida) and heterochrony in the rhizodontid pectoral fin" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27 (2): 295–315. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[295:ANSOBR]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0272-4634. S2CID   86156691.
3. Holland, Timothy (2010-12-14). "Upper Devonian osteichthyan remains from the Genoa River, Victoria, Australia". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 67: 35–44. doi: 10.24199/j.mmv.2010.67.04 .
4. Jeffery, Jonathan E. (2012-09-01). "Cranial morphology of the Carboniferous rhizodontid Screbinodus ornatus (Osteichthyes: Sarcopterygii)" . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 10 (3): 475–519. doi:10.1080/14772019.2011.595961. ISSN   1477-2019. S2CID   84810001.
5. Garvey, Jillian M.; Johanson, Zerina; Warren, Anne (2005-03-11). "Redescription of the pectoral fin and vertebral column of the rhizodontid fish Barameda decipiens from the lower carboniferous of Australia" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 25 (1): 8–18. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025[0008:ROTPFA]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0272-4634. S2CID   85602761.