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Amiiformes (bowfin)

Osteichthyes - Acropomatiformes - Coccocephalichthyidae

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1929Amiiformes Hay
1964Amiiformes Estes p. 29
1967Amiiformes Gardiner pp. 203-205
1977Amiiformes Patterson and Rosen p. 163
1981Amiiformes Thurmond and Jones p. 86
1984Amiiformes Grande p. 165
1988Amiiformes Case and Schwimmer p. 297
1989Amiiformes Bryant p. 22
1998Amiiformes Forey and Grande
1998Amiiformes Grande and Bemis p. 31
1999Amiiformes Cartanyà p. 548
1999Amiiformes Weems p. 55
2001Amiiformes Peng et al. p. 14
2002Amiiformes Pearson et al. p. 154
2002Amiiformes Sepkoski
2003Amiiformes Meyer and Zardoya
2005Amiiformes Kriwet p. 101
2006Amiiformes Nelson
2007Amiiformes Cavin et al.
2008Amiiformes Brito et al.
2010Amiiformes Bogan et al. p. 164
2010Amiiformes Chang et al.
2011Amiiformes Long p. 242
2013Amiiformes Betancur et al.
2016Amiiformes Nelson et al. p. 125
2018Amiiformes Carnevale and Godfrey p. 164
2019Amiiformes van der Laan p. 57

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassActinopterygii()
orderAcropomatiformes
infraclassActinopteri()
orderAmblypteriformesHeyler 1969
orderBerycomorphi
orderCheirolepidiformes
infraclassChondrosteiMüller 1844
infraclassCladistia(Cope 1870)
RankNameAuthor
familyCoccocephalichthyidaeFowler 1951
familyCoccolepidaeBerg 1940
orderDorypteriformes
orderElonichthyiformesKazantseva-Selezneva 1977
orderEurynotoidiformesMinikh and Minikh 1990
orderGuildayichthyiformes
HalecostomiRegan 1903
familyHaplolepidaeWestoll 1944
orderHeteromi
familyHowqualepididae
familyIrajapintoseidaeBeltan 1990
familyMimiidaeGardiner 1993
NeopterygiiRegan 1923
infraclassHolostei(Müller 1846)
orderAmiiformesHay 1929
genusAmiiformes

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Or. Amiiformes Hay 1929 [bowfin]
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G. †Ainia Jordan 1918
Superfm. †Amioidea Bonaparte 1838
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Invalid names: Paracentrophoridae Obruchev 1964 [empty]
Subor. Amioidei
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Fm. Amiidae Huxley 1861
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G. Amia Linnaeus 1766 [bowfin]
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Amia calva Linnaeus 1766 [bowfin]
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Invalid names: Amia reticulata Lesuer 1846 [synonym]
Amia efremovi Sytchevskaya 1981
Amia fragosa Jordan 1927
Amia hesperia Wilson 1982
Amia pattersoni Grande and Bemis 1998
Amia scutata Cope 1875
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Invalid names: Amia dictyocephala Cope 1875 [synonym]
Amia uintaensis Leidy 1873
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Invalid names: Pappichthys medius Cope 1884 [synonym]
Invalid names: Amia robusta Priem 1901 [nomen dubium], Amiatus Rafinesque 1815 [synonym]
Subfm. Amiinae Bonaparte 1837
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G. †Cyclurus Agassiz 1839
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Cyclurus efremovi Sytchevskaya 1981
Cyclurus fragosus Jordan 1927
Cyclurus gurleyi Russell and Fryxell 1928
Cyclurus ignotus Blainville 1818
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Invalid names: Amia laticaudata Agassiz 1843 [synonym], Amia munieri Priem 1911 [synonym]
Cyclurus kehreri Andreae 1893
Cyclurus macrocephalus Reuss 1844
Cyclurus minor Agassiz 1839
Cyclurus oligocenicus Winkler 1880
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Invalid names: Notaeus longistriatus Winkler 1880 [synonym]
Cyclurus valenciennesi Agassiz 1839
Invalid names: Amia chinzhalensis Sytchevskaya 1986 [nomen dubium], Amia russelli Janot 1966 [nomen dubium], Kindleia Jordan 1927 [synonym], Paramiatus Romer and Fryxell 1928 [synonym], Stylomyleodon Russell 1928 [synonym], Stylomyleodon lacus Russell 1928 [nomen dubium]
G. †Pseudamiatus Whitley
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Pseudamiatus heintzi Whitley 1954
Invalid names: Pseudamia Lehman 1951 [replaced]
Invalid names: Amia (Protamia) gracilis Leidy 1873 [nomen dubium], Amia (Protamia) media Leidy 1873 [nomen dubium], Amia (Protamia) uintaensis Leidy 1873 [nomen dubium], Amia anglica Newton 1899 [nomen dubium], Amia colenutti Newton 1899 [nomen dubium], Amia depressus Marsh 1871 [nomen dubium], Amia eocena Owen 1884 [nomen dubium], Amia exilis Lambe 1908 [nomen dubium], Amia furiosa Sytchevskaya 1986 [nomen dubium], Amia lemoinei Leriche 1900 [nomen dubium], Amia limosa Nessov 1985 [nomen dubium], Amia macrospondyla Cope 1891 [nomen dubium], Amia morini Priem 1911 [nomen dubium], Amia newberrianus Marsh 1871 [nomen dubium], Amia semimarina Nessov 1985 [nomen dubium], Amia strigasa Sytchevskaya 1986 [nomen dubium], Amia whiteavesiana Cope 1891 [nomen dubium], Pappichthys barroisi Leriche 1900 [nomen dubium], Pappichthys corsonii Cope 1873 [nomen dubium], Pappichthys laevis Cope 1873 [nomen dubium], Pappichthys mongoliensis Hussakof 1932 [nomen dubium], Pappichthys plicatus Cope 1873 [nomen dubium], Pappichthys sclerops Cope 1873 [nomen dubium], Pappichthys symphysis Cope 1873 [nomen dubium]
Subfm. †Amiopsinae Grande and Bemis 1998
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G. †Amiopsis Kner 1863
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Amiopsis damoni Egerton 1858
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Invalid names: Megalurus austeni Egerton 1858 [synonym]
Amiopsis dolloi Traquair 1911
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Invalid names: Amiopsis lata Traquair 1911 [synonym]
Amiopsis lepidota Agassiz 1833
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Invalid names: Megalurus brevicostatus Agassiz 1834 [synonym], Megalurus grandis Wagner 1863 [synonym]
Amiopsis prisca Kner 1863
Amiopsis woodwardi Sauvage 1903
Invalid names: Urocles Jordan 1918 [synonym]
G. †Guizhouamia Liu et al. 2002
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Guizhouamia bellula Liu et al. 2002
G. †Hispanamia MartÍn-Abad and Poyato-Ariza 2017
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Hispanamia newbreyi MartÍn-Abad and Poyato-Ariza 2017
G. †Lehmanamia Casier 1966
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Lehmanamia sheppeyensis Casier 1966
G. †Liodesmus Wagner 1863
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Liodesmus gracilis Agassiz 1838
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Invalid names: Megalurus intermedius Wagner 1851 [synonym]
Liodesmus sprattiformis Wagner 1863
G. †Nipponamia Yabumoto 1994
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Nipponamia satoi Yabumoto 1994
G. †Notaeus Agassiz 1843
G. †Protamia Leidy 1873
Subfm. †Solnhofenamiinae Grande and Bemis 1998
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G. †Solnhofenamia Grande and Bemis 1998
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Solnhofenamia elongata Agassiz 1839
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Invalid names: Urocles altivelis Wagner 1863 [synonym], Urocles elegantissimus Wagner 1863 [synonym], Urocles polyspondylus Wagner 1851 [synonym]
Subfm. †Vidalamiinae Grande and Bemis 1998
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Tr. †Calamopleurini Grande and Bemis 1998
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G. †Calamopleurus Agassiz 1843
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Invalid names: Enneles Jordan and Branner 1908 [synonym]
G. †Maliamia Patterson and Longbottom 1989
G. †Melvius Bryant 1988
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Melvius chauliodous Hall and Wolberg 1989
Melvius thomasi Bryant 1988
Tr. †Vidalamiini Grande and Bemis 1998
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G. †Cratoamia Brito et al. 2008
G. †Pachyamia Chalifa and Tchernov 1982
G. †Vidalamia White and Moy-Thomas 1941
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Invalid names: Vidalia Sauvage 1903 [replaced]
Invalid names: Amiatidae Jordan 1923 [synonym], Paleamia Jonet 1981 [nomen dubium]
Fm. †Sinamiidae Berg 1940
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G. †Ikechaoamia Liu 1961
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Ikechaoamia meridionalis Zhang and Zhang 1980
G. †Siamamia Cavin et al. 2007
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Siamamia naga Cavin et al. 2007
G. †Sinamia
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Sinamia kukurihime Yabumoto 2014
Sinamia lanzhouensis Peng et al. 2015
Sinamia poyangica Su and Li 1990
Sinamia zdanskyi Stensiö 1935
Sinamiidae naga Cavin et al. 2007
Invalid names: Liodesmidae [empty]
Subor. †Caturoidei Owen 1860
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Fm. Caturidae Owen 1860
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G. †Caturus Agassiz 1834
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Caturus agassizi Egerton 1858
Caturus angustus Agassiz 1843
Caturus branchiostegus Agassiz 1834
Caturus bucklandi Agassiz 1843
Caturus chaperi Sauvage 1883
Caturus chirotes Agassiz 1842
Caturus contractus Wagner 1863
Caturus cyprinoides Wagner 1863
Caturus dartoni Eastman 1899
Caturus deani Gregory 1923
Caturus elongatus Agassiz 1834
Caturus ferox Agassiz 1844
Caturus furcatus Agassiz 1834
Caturus grannulatus Münster 1842
Caturus heterurus Agassiz 1839
Caturus latidens Woodward 1918
Caturus latipennis Agassiz 1843
Caturus latus Muenster 1834
Caturus macrodus Agassiz 1834
Caturus macrurus Agassiz 1843
Caturus maximus Agassiz 1834
Caturus meyeri Agassiz 1843
Caturus microchirus Agassiz 1834
Caturus nuchalis Agassiz 1833
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Invalid names: Pachycormus furcatus Agassiz 1833 [synonym]
Caturus obovatus Münster 1842
Caturus pachyurus Agassiz 1843
Caturus pleiodus Agassiz 1843
Caturus porteri Rayner 1948
Caturus purbeckensis Woodward 1890
Caturus retrodorsalis Sauvage 1891
Caturus similis Agassiz 1837
Caturus stenospondylus Sauvage 1875
Caturus stenoura Sauvage 1875
Caturus tarraconensis Sauvage 1903
Caturus tenuidens Woodward 1895
Invalid names: Conodus Agassiz 1843 [synonym], Ditaxiodus Owen 1866 [synonym], Endactis Egerton 1858 [synonym], Strobilodus Wagner 1851 [synonym], Thlattodus Owen 1866 [synonym], Uraeus Agassiz 1832 [replaced]
G. †Kahamachli Malkani 2019
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Kahamachli harrandlundi Malkani 2019
G. †Gymnoichthys Tintori et al. 2010
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Gymnoichthys inopinatus Tintori et al. 2010
G. †Eusemius Vetter 1881
Fm. †Ionoscopidae Lehman 1966
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G. †Ionoscopus Costa 1853
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Ionoscopus petrarojae Costa 1853
G. †Oshunia Wenz and Kellner 1986
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Oshunia brevis Wenz and Kellner 1986
G. †Quetzalichthys Alvarado-Ortega and Espinosa-Arrubarrena 2008
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Quetzalichthys perrilliatae Alvarado-Ortega and Espinosa-Arrubarrena 2008
G. †Spathiurus Davis 1887
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Spathiurus dorsalis Davis 1887
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Invalid names: Amphilaphurus major Davis 1887 [synonym]
Invalid names: Amphilaphurus Davis 1887 [synonym]
G. †Otomitla Felix 1891
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
B. G. Gardiner 1967The Amiiformes, unlike the Semionotiformes, were derived from the chondrostean order Parasemionotiformes (see Text-fig. 8). Tee earliest amiiform family is the Paracentrophoridae which is represented by the single genus Paracentrophorus (Text-fig. 6A) from the basal Trias of Madagascar. Within the Parasemionotiformes the preoperculum, which had already lost its connection with the maxilla, shows several different patterns of fragmentation. Thus in Ospia (Stensio, 1932) and Watsonulus (Piveteau, 1935) the entire preoperculum is still intact while in Parasemionotus (Lehman, 1952) only the dorsal portion of the preoperculum is undergoing fragmentation (Text-fig. 2 A) How ever, the preoperculum in Thomasinotus (Lehman, Chateau, Laurain & Nauche, 1959) had fragmented more completely to give a narrow, crescentic posterior portion containing the sensory canal and an anterior series of three large suborbitals (Text-fig. 2B). This is almost identical in arrangement to that condition seen in Paracentrophorus (Text-fig 6A) and it would seem that the Paracentrophoridae was derived from a parasemionotid such as Thomasinotus. In Paracentrophorus the preoperculum braces the palate posteriorly having an intimate connection with the quadrate, symplectic and metapterygoid ventrally and with the opercular series posteriorly. Further the preoperculum abuts against the skull roofing bones dorsally. Thus as in the Semionotidae the adductor mandibulae and the arcus palatini muscles were able to increase in mass and complexity and spread widely over the hyomandibular, metapterygoid, endopteiygoid, quadrate and symplectic. The suborbitals fitted against the supramaxilla ventrally and closely contacted the preoperculum posteriorly. From the Paracentrophoridae the later Jurassic family Catervariolidae u as derived ;this family shows little change from that condition seen in the Paracentrophoridae. Another early amiiform family which shared a common ancestry with the Paracentrophoridae is the Promecosominidae. The Promecosominidae is represented by the single genus Promecosomina from the Middle ( 2 ) Trias of New South Wales and apart from the suborbital series consisting of two elements only (Gardiner, 1960), it is fairly close to Paracentrophorus. The central family of the Amiiformes is the Caturidae, and from this family all the remaining Amiiformes arose as well as the rather aberrant Pachycormiformes (Text-fig. 8).The earliest caturid is Eoeugnathus from the Middle Trias (Ladinian), of Italy. Unfortunately the cheek region of this genus is poorly known. In the better known members of this family the preoperculum and suborbitals are much as in the Paracentrophoridae. The preoperculum is somewhat broader than in the Paracentrophidae but it has the same intimate connection with the palate ventrally and the opercular series posteriorly. The suborbitals primitively consist of two or three units, but these are more extensive than in the earlier Amiiformes. In some genera the suborbitals grow back to cover the dorsal extremity of the preoperculum (Furo, Osteorachis). In Oenoscopus (Saint-Seine, 1949) the suborbitals have themselves undergone further fragmentation to give a more extensive series than is normally seen in the Amiiformes. A family which arose contemporaneously with the caturids is the Macrosemiidae. The macrosemiids and caturids are undoubtedly related and probably derived from the same ancestral stock. In the earliest macrosemiid genus Ophiopsis (Saint-Seine, 1949) the preoperculum and suborbitals are very similar to that condition seen in the caturids. The preoperculum is firmly attached to the palate and the opercular series and in later members there is a tendency to reduction and loss of the suborbitals. This reduction and loss of the suborbital series (also seen in the Pycnodontiformes) presumably increased the flexibility of the cheek region and allowed further dilatation of the bucco-pharyngeal cavity. The last amiiform family, the Amiidae, arose directly from the Caturidae and contains the recent, Arnia. One characteristic of the Amiidae is the great reduction of the suborbital series from that condition seen in the Caturidae. Throughout the Amiiformes, with the exception of Amia, the preoperculum, as in all other holosteans (except Lepisosteus), is covered by enamel. In Amia the enamel has been lost not only from the membrane bones but also from the scales. Again as in Lepisosteus the main portion of the adductor mandibulae shifted its origin from the palate on to the preoperculum (in the ontogeny of Amia and Lepisosteus (Edgeworth, 1935) the adductor mandibulae first attaches to the palatoquadrate, then later grows back to the hyomandibular and finally stems from the preoperculum and palate). With this increase in the available area for muscle attachment the adductor mandibulae in Amia became more completely subdivided and closely parallels that condition seen in the teleosts. Parth of the adductor still originate from the hyomandibular, quadrate and symplectic while other portions are attached to the postorbital part of the braincase and the adjacent ventral surface of the skull roof. Unfortunately, as in the Semionotiformes. this shift in the origin of the adductor mandibulae within the Amiiformes came too late to be of any real consequence; however it is interesting to note that the only holostean survivors today are those in which the adductor mandibulae had shifted its origin on to the preoperculum.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinesubp
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: nektobenthico
Diet: carnivoreo
Diet 2: piscivoreo
Created: 2009-07-20 20:51:40
Modified: 2013-12-06 11:51:31
Source: o = order, subp = subphylum
References: Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Changhsingian to the top of the Holocene or 254.14000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 251.902 Ma

Collections (591 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Changhsingian254.14 - 251.902China (Jiangxi) Caturus indet. (119495)
Pelsonian244.24 - 243.33China (Yunnan) Gymnoichthys inopinatus (97946 146382)
Ladinian241.464 - 237.0Spain Caturus sp. (148734 149852)
Longobardian239.48 - 237.0Spain (Tarragona) Caturus sp. (109710)
Longobardian239.48 - 237.0China (Guizhou) Guizhouamia bellula (146379)
Late/Upper Triassic237.0 - 201.4USA (Texas) Caturus sp. (39671)
Rhaetian205.7 - 201.4Austria Caturus sp. (195673)
Sinemurian199.5 - 192.9United Kingdom (England) Endactis agassizi, Pachycormus heterurus, Conodus ferox (122154) Pachycormus latipennis, Endactis agassizi, Pachycormus heterurus (122153) Pachycormus latipennis, Pachycormus heterurus, Conodus ferox (122155)
Early/Lower Toarcian184.2 - 182.9France Caturus sp. (122733)
Falciferum184.2 - 182.9United Kingdom (England) Caturus sp. (130759 132646)
Falciferum184.2 - 182.9France Caturus stenospondylus, Caturus stenoura, Caturus chaperi, Caturus retrodorsalis (122734)
Bathonian168.2 - 165.3Russian Federation (Krasnoyarsk) Sinamiidae indet. (61891)
Bathonian168.2 - 165.3USA (South Dakota) Amiopsis dartoni (122622)
Early/Lower Bathonian168.2 - 165.3France Caturus sp. (61378)
Early/Lower Bathonian168.2 - 165.3France (Midi-Pyrénées) Caturus sp. (61377)
Late/Upper Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom (England) Caturus sp. (39075)
Callovian165.3 - 161.5United Kingdom (England) Caturus porteri (130656)
Middle Oxfordian161.5 - 154.8Portugal (Leiria) Caturus sp. (69698)
Oxfordian - Kimmeridgian161.5 - 149.2Cuba (Pinar del Rio) Caturus deani (278859)
Late/Upper Jurassic161.5 - 143.1China (Inner Mongolia) Ikechaoamia orientalis (278855)