Project 3818: A. M. Clement, R. Cloutier, J. Lu, E. Perilli, A. Maksimenko, J. Long. 2021. A fresh look at Cladarosymblema narrienense, a tetrapodomorph fish (Sarcopterygii: Megalichthyidae) from the Carboniferous of Australia, illuminated via X-ray tomography. PeerJ. 9:e12597.
Specimen: † Cladarosymblema narrienense Fox, Campbell, Barwick & Long, 1995 (QM/F:21082)
View: dorsal

Abstract

BACKGROUND. The megalichthyids are one of several clades of extinct tetrapodomorph fish that lived throughout the Devonian – Permian periods. They are advanced “osteolepidid-grade” fishes that lived in freshwater swamp and lake environments, with some taxa growing to very large sizes. They bear cosmine-covered bones and a large premaxillary tusk that lies lingually to a row of small teeth. Diagnosis of the family remains controversial with various authors revising it several times in recent works. There are fewer than 10 genera known globally, and only one member definitively identified from Gondwana. Cladarosymblema narrienense Fox et al. 1995 was described from the Lower Carboniferous Raymond Formation in Queensland, Australia, on the basis of several well-preserved specimens. Despite this detailed work, several aspects of its anatomy remain undescribed.

METHODS. Two especially well-preserved 3D fossils of Cladarosymblema narrienense, including the holotype specimen, are scanned using synchrotron or micro-computed tomography (µCT), and 3D modelled using specialist segmentation and visualisation software. New anatomical detail, in particular internal anatomy, is revealed for the first time in this taxon. A novel phylogenetic matrix, adapted from other recent work on tetrapodomorphs, is used to clarify the interrelationships of the megalichthyids and confirm the phylogenetic position C. narrienense.

RESULTS. Never before seen morphological details of the palate, hyoid arch, basibranchial skeleton, pectoral girdle and axial skeleton are revealed and described. Several additional features are confirmed or updated from the original description. Moreover, the first full, virtual cranial endocast of any tetrapodomorph fish is presented and described, giving insight into the early neural adaptations in this group. Phylogenetic analysis confirms the monophyly of the Megalichthyidae with seven genera included (Askerichthys, Cladarosymblema, Ectosteorhachis, Mahalalepis, Megalichthys, Palatinichthys, and Sengoerichthys). The position of the megalichthyids as sister group to canowindrids, crownward of “osteolepidids” (e.g. Osteolepis and Gogonasus), but below “tristichopterids” such as Eusthenopteron is confirmed, but our findings suggest further work is required to resolve megalichthyid interrelationships.



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Article DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12597

Project DOI: 10.7934/P3818, http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/P3818
This project containsMatrices
  • 1 Media
  • 1 Matrix
  • 49 Taxa
  • 10 Specimens
  • 206 Characters
Total size of project's media files: 442.89k

Download Project SDD File
Total scored cells: 5947
Total media associated with cells: 0
Total labels associated with cell media: 0
Characters
Total characters: 206
Total characters with associated media: 0
Total characters with media with labels: 0
Total character states: 445
Total character states with associated media: 0
Total character states with media with labels:0
Total unordered/ordered characters:188/18
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MorphoBank Project 3818

    Authors' Institutions

    • Flinders University

    • Université du Québec à Rimouski (University of Quebec at Rimouski)

    • Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), CAS

    • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

    • CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment



    Members

    member name taxa specimens media media
    notes
    chars character
    comms
       
    notes  media
    labels
    cell scorings
    (scored, NPA, "-")
    cell
    comms
        
    notes  medialabels
    rules
    Richard Cloutier
    Project Administrator
    48900204015005546
    (5309, 0, 237)
    023000
    Alice Clement
    Full membership
    111000000143
    (133, 0, 10)
    0135000
    John Long
    Full membership
    000020100258
    (233, 0, 25)
    013000
    Jing Lu
    Full membership
    0000000000
    (0, 0, 0)
    00000


    Taxonomic Overview for Matrix 'M26951' (49 Taxa)

    taxon unscored
    cells
    scored
    cells
    no cell
    support
    NPA
    cells
    "-" cellscell images labels on
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    member
    access
    [1] † Youngolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    7412312309004
    [2] † Diabolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    1207574011004
    [3] † Powichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    7612312107004
    [4] † Porolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    51145144010004
    [5] † Glyptolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    19171171016004
    [6] † Tungsenia
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    130736403004
    [7] † Kenichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    7912312204004
    [8] † Gooloogongia
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    9710810102004
    [9] † Sauripterus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    171343101004
    [10] † Barameda
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    5015213105004
    [11] † Screbinodus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    124805102004
    [12] † Rhizodus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    134715301004
    [13] † Strepsodus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    129765701004
    [14] † Gyroptychius
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    7213012804004
    [15] † Osteolepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    5914213806004
    [16] † Gogonasus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    1195178010004
    [17] † Medoevia
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    4415715505004
    [18] † Askerichthys heintziorum
    Last Modified in 09/14/21
    13074204004
    [19] † Palatinichthys laticeps
    Last Modified in 09/29/20
    13566405004
    [20] † Sengoerichthys ottoman
    Last Modified in 09/29/20
    163403703004
    [21] † Cladarosymblema narrienense
    Last Modified in 09/13/21
    3216814806004
    [22] † Megalichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    21175173010004
    [23] † Megalichthys hibberti
    Last Modified in 09/14/21
    22174168011004
    [24] † Megalichthys laticeps
    Last Modified in 09/14/21
    160403906004
    [25] † Megalichthys mullisoni
    Last Modified in 09/10/21
    9210810706004
    [26] † Mahalalepis resima
    Last Modified in 08/26/21
    172343300004
    [27] † Ectosteorhachis nitidus
    Last Modified in 09/13/21
    8511411407004
    [28] † Beelarongia
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    128756203004
    [29] † Canowindra
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    133716602004
    [30] † Koharalepis
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    104977205004
    [31] † Marsdenichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    8412010502004
    [32] † Spodichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    9111411301004
    [33] † Tristichopterus
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    7213011304004
    [34] † Eusthenopteron
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    020220004004
    [35] † Jarvikina
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    9211111103004
    [36] † Platycephalichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    10310210001004
    [37] † Cabonnichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    5314914804004
    [38] † Mandageria
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    4415615506004
    [39] † Eusthenodon
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    1041009902004
    [40] † Hongyu
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    157474702004
    [41] † Bruehnopteron murphyi
    Last Modified in 08/28/19
    9410810504004
    [42] † Tinirau clackae
    Last Modified in 08/28/19
    7412712505004
    [43] † Panderichthys
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    819518206004
    [44] † Elpistostege
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    34164152011004
    [45] † Tiktaalik
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    32167153010004
    [46] † Ventastega curonica
    Last Modified in 06/20/19
    1039089013004
    [47] † Acanthostega
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    18174172014004
    [48] † Ichthyostega
    Last Modified in 04/17/20
    21172171013004
    [49] † Tulerpeton curtum
    Last Modified in 06/17/19
    171333202004


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