Amazichthys

Amazichthys Temporal range: Famennian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Holotype specimen AA.MEM.DS.8 (A and B), and paratype PIMUZ A/I 4773 (C, D)
Life reconstruction
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	†Placodermi
Order:	†Arthrodira
Suborder:	†Brachythoraci
Family:	†Selenosteidae
Genus:	†Amazichthys Jobbins et al, 2022
Species:	†A. trinajsticae
Binomial name
†Amazichthys trinajsticae Jobbins et al, 2022

Amazichthys is an extinct genus of selenosteid arthrodire from the Middle Famennian of the Late Devonian of the Anti-Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It contains a single species, Amazichthys trinajsticae. It is one of a few example of placoderm known from whole body shape, including cartilaginous axial and fin elements.[1]

Description

Amazichthys had a profile similar to that of fast-moving pelagic fishes, with lateral keels for stability, and a lunate caudal fin, suggesting it could reach and maintain high speed.[1] The holotype, AA.MEM.DS.8, is 89.7 cm (35.3 in) long.[1][2]

Etymology

Amazichthys trinajsticae was named after the North African ethnic group Amazigh (Berbers), and Australian palaeontologist Kate Trinajstic.[1]

Taxonomy

Amazichthys is part of Selenosteidae, a family inside the clade Aspinothoracidi, inside of Pachyosteomorphi, along with Dunkleosteoidea.

The cladogram shown here is based on Jobbins et al, 2022.[1]

Dicksonosteus Holonema Homosteus Buchanosteus Coccosteus Harrytoombsia Compagopiscis Mcnamaraspis Incisoscutum Rolfosteus Tubonasus Camuropiscis Latocamurus Pachyosteomorphi Eastmanosteus Dunkleosteus T Dunkleosteus R Aspinothoracidae Stenosteus Selenosteidae Gymnotrachelus Gorgonichthys Heintzichthys Driscollaspis Rhinosteus Selenosteus Amazichthys Melanosteus Draconichthys Enseosteus Walterosteus

References

1. Jobbins, Melina; Rücklin, Martin; Ferrón, Humberto G.; Klug, Christian (2022). "A new selenosteid placoderm from the Late Devonian of the eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco) with preserved body outline and its ecomorphology". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 10. doi:10.3389/fevo.2022.969158. hdl:10550/85583. ISSN 2296-701X.
2. Engelman, Russell K. (2023). "A Devonian Fish Tale: A New Method of Body Length Estimation Suggests Much Smaller Sizes for Dunkleosteus terrelli (Placodermi: Arthrodira)". Diversity. 15 (3). 318. doi:10.3390/d15030318.