Palaeoniscum
| Palaeoniscum Temporal range: Late Permian
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| Genus: | Palaeoniscum
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Palaeoniscum is an extinct genus of ray-finned fish from the Permian period. It was about one foot (30 cm) long.
Palaeoniscum had a torpedo-shaped body, deeply forked caudal fin and tall dorsal fin, indicating that it was a fast swimmer. It probably was an active predator, feeding on other fresh water fish. Its sharp teeth could be replaced when lost, a trait also seen in modern day sharks. Like other early actinopterygids Palaeoniscum had air sacks connected to the mouth which served as a primitive floating organ.
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