Macrosemiiformes is an extinct order of ray-finned fish with one family, Macrosemiidae. The group evolved during the Late Triassic and disappeared during the Late Cretaceous. The group has been found in rock formations in Africa, Australia, Eurasia and North America. They members of Ginglymodi, meaning that their closest living relatives are gars, with them either being placed as the most basal members of the clade, or as nested within the Semionotiformes. Many members of the family have elongated dorsal fins, often associated with adjacent area of skin which was free of scales. These fins were likely undulated for use in precision swimming. Their body morphology suggests that they were slow swimmers that were capable of maneuvering around complex topography, such as reef environments.
Taxonomy
†Order Macrosemiiformes
†Family Macrosemiidae, Thiollière, 1858
Genus †Eosemionotus
Genus †Aphanepygus
Genus †Disticholepis
Genus †Enchelyolepis
Genus †Orthurus
Genus †Petalopteryx
Genus †Neonotagogus
Genus †Histionotus
Genus †Legnonotus
Genus †Macrosemius
Genus †Propterus
Incetae sedis
Genus †Uarbryichthys
Genus †Voelklichthys
Timeline of genera
References
Prehistoric ray-finned fish orders
