Mesturidae Nursall, 1996 (Actinopterygii, Pycnodontiformes) from the Jurassic of England and Germany

The pycnodontiform family Mesturidae from the Middle and Upper Jurassic of central Europe has been studied in detail. Mesturus verrucosus , the type species of the genus Mesturus , is being re-described, primarily based on new, partly juvenile specimens. M. verrucosus is recognised as the only species of the genus Mesturus . The species previously described under Mesturus , M. leedsi , is now described as new genus Aminiichthys . Additionally, specimens which until now were added to the type species Mesturus verrucosus were now separated from this taxon and placed in the separate new genus Goodichthys . The new genera Aminiichthys and Goodichthys differ from the genus Mesturus mainly in the scale rows of the body which do not bifurcate, the ornamentation of vomer and prearticular teeth and for Goodichthys also in the lower number of dorsal fin rays and the elongated scales in the cheek region. New small specimens of 4–9 cm total length from Eichstätt and Painten were assigned here to Mesturus verrucosus for the first time and described as juveniles using newly-taken UV photos that reveal many previously unknown features. A new phylogeny of the Pycnodontiformes is presented, in which the new taxa were added.

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Publication Details

Journal
Swiss Journal of Palaeontology
Published
2026-07-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3897/sjp.145.e193008
Primary Topic
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
Type
article
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Mesturidae Nursall, 1996 (Actinopterygii, Pycnodontiformes) from the Jurassic of England and Germany

Martin Ebert
Swiss Journal of Palaeontology
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
article

Mesturidae Nursall, 1996 (Actinopterygii, Pycnodontiformes) from the Jurassic of England and Germany

Martin Ebert
article en

Abstract

The pycnodontiform family Mesturidae from the Middle and Upper Jurassic of central Europe has been studied in detail. Mesturus verrucosus , the type species of the genus Mesturus , is being re-described, primarily based on new, partly juvenile specimens. M. verrucosus is recognised as the only species of the genus Mesturus . The species previously described under Mesturus , M. leedsi , is now described as new genus Aminiichthys . Additionally, specimens which until now were added to the type species Mesturus verrucosus were now separated from this taxon and placed in the separate new genus Goodichthys . The new genera Aminiichthys and Goodichthys differ from the genus Mesturus mainly in the scale rows of the body which do not bifurcate, the ornamentation of vomer and prearticular teeth and for Goodichthys also in the lower number of dorsal fin rays and the elongated scales in the cheek region. New small specimens of 4–9 cm total length from Eichstätt and Painten were assigned here to Mesturus verrucosus for the first time and described as juveniles using newly-taken UV photos that reveal many previously unknown features. A new phylogeny of the Pycnodontiformes is presented, in which the new taxa were added.

Swiss Journal of PalaeontologyVol. 145
Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie (DE)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
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Mesturidae Nursall, 1996 (Actinopterygii, Pycnodontiformes) from the Jurassic of England and Germany — Martin Ebert · Swiss Journal of Palaeontology (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS