- Leptolepis
Taxobox
name = "Leptolepis"
status = fossil
image_caption = "Leptolepis koonwarriensis"
fossil_range = MidTriassic toEarly Cretaceous
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Actinopterygii
ordo =Pachycormiformes
familia =Leptolepidae
genus = "Leptolepis""Leptolepis" ("Delicate Scale") is an extinct genus of
teleost ray-finned fish that lived in theMesozoic era. It was about 30 cm (1 ft) long and one of the first teleosts."Leptolepis" was the first true
bony fish to really live up to the name, possessing a skeleton completely made ofbone (previous genera such as "Pholidophorus " had skeletons only partially composed of bone). Another modern development in "Leptolepis" were its scales, which lacked the covering still present in previous genera. These two developments made swimming easier, as the bony spine was now more resistant to the pressure caused by the S movements made while swimming. Mass graves of "Leptolepis" have indicated that it probably lived in schools which would provide some protection from predators while the creatures fed on surfaceplankton . "Pelagosaurus " was a known predator of "Leptolepis" after a "Pelagosaurus" fossil was found with "Leptolepis" remains in its stomach."Leptolepis" may have resembled the
herring .
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