FOSSILS SPECIMEN: ACTINOPTERYGII (RAY_FINNED FISH)

Fossils are defined as any evidence of prehistoric life. There are two types of fossils: Body Fossils include remains of skeletal bones, shell, carapace, test and teeth. Trace Fossils are clues the organism existed such as foot prints, tracks, burrows and coprolites (fossil dung).

Osteichthyes meaning “bony fish” are a diverse taxonomic group that have skeletons composed of bone instead of cartilage. There are to groups Actinopterygii more commonly know as “ray-finned fish”; including tuna, salmon, goldfish, etc… The other group are Sarcopterygii more commonly known as “lobe-finned fish”; including lungfish and coelacanths. To see my model fish click here.

Kingdom: Animalia – Phylum: Chordata – Superclass: Osteichthyes – Class Actinopterygii

(bony ray-finned fish)

Late Silurain to Holocene

Gar Fish Scales

Pleistocene (brown) and Recent (white)

Florida, United States

Fossil Fish Knightia eocaena 

Eocene (~48 MYA)

Green River Formation, Warfield’s Quarry, Kemmerer, Wyoming, United States

Fossil Fish Knightia eocaena 

Eocene (~48 MYA)

Green River Formation, Warfield’s Quarry, Kemmerer, Wyoming, United States