Moythomasia Temporal range: | |
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†Moythomasia nitida Gross 1953 from the Devonian (Givetian) of Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany. | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Family: | † Moythomasiidae Kazantseva, 1971 |
Genus: | † Moythomasia Gross, 1950 non Whitley, 1951 |
Species | |
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Synonyms | |
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Moythomasia (named for James Alan Moy-Thomas) [1] is an extinct genus of early ray-finned fish from the Devonian period, known from fossils found in Europe and Australia.
Moythomasia was a small freshwater fish, measuring about 9 centimetres (3.5 in) in length. It had relatively large eyes, likely to help it locate prey in murky water. Its body was covered in specialized ganoid scales; the upper side of each scale featured a small pin that perfectly fit into a hollow on the lower side of the adjacent scale. This unique structure provided both armor and flexibility. [2]