Australosomus
Australosomus
Australosomus (meaning "southern body") is an extinct genus of early ray-finned fish that lived in the Early Triassic period. Fossils have been found in Greenland, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, South Africa, and Canada (British Columbia).
The type species, Australosomus merlei, was first described as Pristisomus merlei by Ferdinand Priem and later placed in the genus Australosomus by Jean Piveteau.
After the Permian–Triassic extinction event, Australosomus appeared but died out early in the Triassic, possibly during another extinction event. Most species were marine, but African species have been found in freshwater deposits.
The name Australosomus is a bit misleading, since fossils have been found far north in Canada and Greenland, although the first remains were described from Madagascar.
Species and remains
- Australosomus merlei (Madagascar) is the type species; originally named Pristisomus merlei.
- Indeterminate remains have been found in the Sulphur Mountain Formation (British Columbia) and in Alberta, Canada.
- Remains that may belong to a related genus have been found in the Late Triassic Chinle Formation (Arizona).
- Possible remains are known from the Permian–Triassic boundary in Kenya.
Description
Australosomus was an elongated fish with strongly interlocking scales that were three to four times longer than wide and a deeply forked tail fin. It was typically about 10 to 31 cm long (roughly 4 to 12 inches).
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 10:10 (CET).