Strunius
Encyclopedia
Strunius is an extinct genus of lobe-finned fish from the Devonian
period of Germany.
Although it was a lobe-finned fish Struniuss fins were supported by fin rays, which are more associated with ray-finned fish. However, its skull
was composed of two articulating halves, a feature characteristic of the lobe-finned rhipidistia
ns. The skull was also divided by a deep articulation, with both halves probably connected by a large muscle
, increasing the power of the bite. The same system is seen in coelacanth
s and the better-known Eusthenopteron
.
Compared to other lobe-finned fishes, Strunius had a rather short, stubby body, and was just 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long. It was covered in large, round, bony scales, and probably fed on other fishes.
Devonian
The Devonian is a geologic period and system of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya , to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya...
period of Germany.
Although it was a lobe-finned fish Struniuss fins were supported by fin rays, which are more associated with ray-finned fish. However, its skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
was composed of two articulating halves, a feature characteristic of the lobe-finned rhipidistia
Rhipidistia
The Rhipidistia were lobe-finned fishes that are the ancestors of the tetrapods. Taxonomists traditionally considered the Rhipidistia a subgroup of Crossopterygii that described a group of fish that lived during the Devonian consisting of the Porolepiformes and Osteolepiformes...
ns. The skull was also divided by a deep articulation, with both halves probably connected by a large muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
, increasing the power of the bite. The same system is seen in coelacanth
Coelacanth
Coelacanths are members of an order of fish that includes the oldest living lineage of Sarcopterygii known to date....
s and the better-known Eusthenopteron
Eusthenopteron
Eusthenopteron is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which has attained an iconic status from its close relationships to tetrapods. Early depictions of this animal show it emerging onto land, however paleontologists now widely agree that it was a strictly aquatic animal...
.
Compared to other lobe-finned fishes, Strunius had a rather short, stubby body, and was just 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long. It was covered in large, round, bony scales, and probably fed on other fishes.