Kyphosichthys

Kyphosichthys; Temporal range:Middle Triassic,Anisian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Holotypeskeleton ofK. grandei
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Clade:	Ginglymodi
Order:	†Kyphosichthyiformes
Family:	†Kyphosichthyidae
Genus:	†Kyphosichthys; Xu & Wu,2011
Species:	†K. grandei
Binomial name
	†Kyphosichthys grandei; Xu & Wu, 2011

Kyphosichthysis anextinct genusofbasal actinopterygian bony fishknown from the lowerMiddle Triassic(Anisian) marine deposits (Guanling Formation) inLuoping,easternYunnan Province,southwesternChina.^[1]The species is the first known fossil record of highly deep-bodiedginglymodians.

Description

Kyphosichthys(Greekfor "bent fish" ) has a strongly arched hump between the head and the dorsal fin, from which its name derives. Theholotypemeasures 96 mm intotal length,and 76 mm instandard length.The greatest body height occurs at the posterior opercular margin, where the body height is over 70% of the standard length. The dorsal fin and anal fin are located far back on the body, the latter is only half as long as the dorsal fin. The pelvic fins are much smaller than the pectoral fins. The forkedcaudal finis hemi-heterocercaldue to a heavy lobe extending into the dorsal lobe of the fin, but outwardly is nearly symmetrical. The body is covered inganoid scales;those of the anterior flank are decorated with ornate ridges and tubercles while the scales further back are smoother.^[1]

In describingKyphosichthys,Xu and Wu compared its body form to modern day deep-bodied fish such as theboarfishand butterflyfish (Chaetodonsp.), and inferred thatKyphosichthyswas similarly a slow swimmer but highly maneuverable, likely adapted to structurally complex habitats.^[1]

Classification

When it was first described,Kyphosichthyswas assigned asincertae sediswithinGinglymodi,a group ofHolosteanfish which includes the livinggarsas well as extinct species. A phylogenetic analysis ofKyphosichthysand otherMesozoicneopterygians placedKyphosichthysin an unresolvedpolytomywithLepisosteus(living gars) and the extinctSemionotus.^[1]