Ptycholepididae

Ptycholepis, a basal Triassic and Early Jurassic actinopterygian.

Actinopterygian node E: Prismatic ganoin in scales and teeth, suborbital and antopercular bones present.

The ptycholepids possess a characteristic skull bone organisation. These forms, such as Ptycholepis from the Triassic and Early Jurassic of North America and Europe - above, have a reduced dermosphenotic element (the bone on the dorsal margin of the posterior eye socket) that no longer contacts the nasal and various suborbital bones in the posterior skull.

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