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The earliest known (Namurian A, E1) haplolepids (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2011

Karen A. Lowney
Karen A. Lowney
Affiliation:
Geology Department, Royal Scottish Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, Scotland.
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Abstract

Two new genera and species of haplolepids (Chondrostei), Protohaplolepis scotica and Blairolepis loanheadensis, are described from the ironstones of Loanhead, Midlothian (Namurian A, E1); this represents the earliest known record of the family. Protohaplolepis scotica (= Traquair's nomen nudum “Eurylepis scoticus”) shows many features in common with Westoll's hypothetical haplolepid “common ancestor X”, and is possibly ancestral to the Haplolepis–Microhaplolepis line within the family. Blairolepis loanheadensis, known only from a skull roof, shows greater similarities to Parahaplolepis and Pyritocephalus, but differs from these genera in having separate dermopterotics and parietals. Two subfamilies, the Haplolepinae and the Parahaplolepinae, are suggested to reflect the distinct evolutionary lines within the family.

A new species, Parahaplolepis westolli, is also described from Newsham, Northumberland (Westphalian B). This species shows a close resemblance to the American species Parahaplolepis tuberculata from Linton, Ohio.

A brief discussion of the evolutionary history of the family is presented, along with a summary of its stratigraphical and geographical distribution.

Keywords

ActinopterygiiancestryBorough LeeChondrosteigeographyLoanheadNewshamstratigraphy.
Type
Research Article
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 74 , Issue 2 , 1983 , pp. 69 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1983

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