Xeradipterus
Encyclopedia
Xeradipterus is an extinct genus
of lungfish
which existed in Australia
during the Frasnian
period. Of moderate size (45 centimetre), it is believed to be a primitive member of the family Holodontidae characterized by its powerful crushing dentition with thick heels on the lower jaw tooth plates. The type
and only specimen was found in the Gogo Formation
by Lindsay Hatcher on an expedition to Gogo led by John A. Long on behalf of Museum Victoria
in 2005.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of lungfish
Lungfish
Lungfish are freshwater fish belonging to the Subclass Dipnoi. Lungfish are best known for retaining characteristics primitive within the Osteichthyes, including the ability to breathe air, and structures primitive within Sarcopterygii, including the presence of lobed fins with a well-developed...
which existed in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
during the Frasnian
Frasnian
The Frasnian is one of two faunal stages in the Late Devonian epoch. It lasted from 385.3 ± 2.6 million years ago to 374.5 ± 2.6 million years ago. It was preceded by the Givetian stage and followed by the Famennian stage...
period. Of moderate size (45 centimetre), it is believed to be a primitive member of the family Holodontidae characterized by its powerful crushing dentition with thick heels on the lower jaw tooth plates. The type
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
and only specimen was found in the Gogo Formation
Gogo Formation
The Gogo Formation in the Kimberley region of Western Australia is a Lagerstätte that exhibits exceptional preservation of a Devonian reef community.- Sedimentology :...
by Lindsay Hatcher on an expedition to Gogo led by John A. Long on behalf of Museum Victoria
Museum Victoria
Museum Victoria is an organisation which operates three major state-owned museums in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; these are: the Melbourne Museum, the Immigration Museum and Scienceworks. It also manages the Royal Exhibition Building and a storage facility in Melbourne's City of Moreland.Museum...
in 2005.