Palaeoniscum

Palaeoniscum; Temporal range: Late Permian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Palaeoniscum vratislavensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Infraphylum:	Gnathostomata
Superclass:	Osteichthyes
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Palaeonisciformes
Genus:	Palaeoniscum; Blainville, 1818
Species:	P. freieslebeni (type); P. vratislavensis
Synonyms
	Palaeoniscus

Palaeoniscum is an extinct genus of ray-finned fish from the Permian period of Europe, North America, and South Africa established 1818 by Blainville ^[1].

Palaeoniscum had a torpedo-shaped body 30 cm (12 in) in length, with a deeply forked caudal fin and tall dorsal fin, indicating that it was a fast swimmer. It was probably an active predator, feeding on other freshwater fish. Its sharp teeth could be replaced when lost, a trait also seen in modern sharks. Like other early ray-finned fish, Palaeoniscum had air sacs connected to the mouth, which served as a primitive swim bladder.^[2]

References

^ Blainville, H.-M. D. (1818). Sur les Ichthyolites, les Poisons Fossiles; Article extrait du Nouveau Dictionnaire d’Histoire Naturelle, vol. 28, Abel Lange, p. 16.
^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 36. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

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[1] Blainville, H.-M. D. (1818). Sur les Ichthyolites, les Poisons Fossiles; Article extrait du Nouveau Dictionnaire d’Histoire Naturelle, vol. 28, Abel Lange, p. 16.

[2] Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 36. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

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