Dipterus
Name: Dipterus
(Two wings).
Phonetic: Dip-teh-rus.
Named By: Adam Sedgwick & Roderick
Murchiso - 1828.
Synonyms: Catopterus.
Classification: Chordata, Sarcopterygii,
Dipnoi, Dipteriformes, Dipteridae.
Species: D. valenciennesi
(type?), D. contraversus, D. crassus, D.
macropterus, D. serratus.
Diet: Carnivore/Piscivore.
Size: About 35 centimetres long.
Known locations: Belgium - Evieux Formation,
and the USA, Pennsylvania - Lockatong Formation.
Time period: Famennian of the Devonian through to
the Norian of the Triassic.
Fossil representation: Many individuals.
Dipterus
is a genus of early lungfish that for a long time was thought only to
have lived in Europe during the Devonian period. However, since
another genus of fish named Catopterus became
treated as a synonym to
the genus, it now seems that the Dipterus existed
all the way to the
late Triassic period in North America. The genus is also sometimes
credited as living in Australia too.
As
a lungfish, Dipterus would have been able to
survive out of the water
for extended periods, suggesting a lifetime spent in shallow waters
that were replenished by seasonal floodwaters, or perhaps even tidal
waters where the water level rose and fell with the push and pull of
the tide. Dipterus however does not seem to have
lungs that were as
well adapted as later genera, and still gills, that were better
adapted than said later genera. With these features in mind, it
seems that Dipterus were more at home in the water.
Like
with many of their sarcopterygian ancestors, the fins on the body of
Dipterus were situated mostly towards the rear,
and the tail was
asymmetrical with a highly developed upper lobe. These would have
been features that allowed for both sudden bursts of speed as well as
reducing any rubbing of the tail against the bottom, something that
would have protected the tail when Dipterus was
resting in shallows
or out of the water completely.
More information on the above fish can be found on their corresponding pages; Ceratodus, Chinlea, Dipnorhynchus, Dipterus, Eusthenopteron, Gooloogongia, Griphognathus, Gyroptychius, Holoptychius, Hyneria, Macropoma, Mandageria, Osteolepis, Panderichthys, Rhizodus, Strunius, Tiktaalik (upper estimate).
Further reading
- On some changes in the
names, generic and specific, of certain fossil fishes. - The American
Naturalist 33:783-792. - O. P. Hay - 1899.
- Upper Devonian fish from Colorado. - Journal of Paleontology 10(7):656-659. - W. L. Bryant & J. H. Johnson - 1936.
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