Biology:Libys

Short description: Extinct genus of coelacanths

Libys Temporal range: Jurassic
Specimen of Libys at the Burgmeister Muller Museum, Solnhofen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Sarcopterygii
Subclass:	Actinistia
Order:	Coelacanthiformes
Family:	Latimeridae
Genus:	Libys Münster, 1842
Species
Libys polypterus (Münster 1842) (type) Libys superbus (Zittel, 1887)

Libys is a genus of coelacanth fish in the family of Latimeridae. Species of Libys lived during the Upper Jurassic period (Kimmeridgian - Tithonian, about 150 to 145 million years ago).

Description

Libys had an exceptionally squat body, especially when compared to other coelacanths of the same period as Undina and Holophagus. Libys could reach 60 centimeters in length and was therefore a medium-sized coelacanth, with a short and high skull. The pectoral fins were quite long, while the tail was remarkably short and high

Distribution

Fossils of these fishes have been found in Germany , in the famous deposits of Solnhofen.

Species

• Libys superbus Reis, 1888
• Libys polypterus

The genus Libys was erected in 1842 by Muenster. The species Libys polypterus was then established as the type species, on the basis of fragmentary remains. A second species, L. superbus, was described on the basis of complete large specimens, but most authors treat both as one species.

Libys superbus at the Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Libys superbus at the Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien

References

• Biolib
• The Paleobiology Database
• Paul H. LAMBERS A redescription of the coelacanth Macropoma willemoesii VETTER from the lithographic limestone of Solnhofen (Upper Jurassic, Bavaria)
• History of the Coelacanth Fishes by Peter L. Forey, Chapman & Hall, 1998.
• von Dr. Peter Wellnhofer Der Quastenflosser Latimeria - ein "lebendes Fossil"

Wikidata ☰ Q582202 entry