Progyrolepis, Fritsch, 1895

cf. Progyrolepis

( Fig. 4)

MATERIAL. — An isolated fulcral scale ( MHNT.PAL.2023.9.52 [ Fig. 4]) .

DESCRIPTION

The scale is isolated and lacks the most posterior part. It is 11 mm long and 5 mm wide as preserved. The scale is triangular in shape, with sculpted ridges running anteroposteriorly. A longitudinal groove runs through the middle of the scale, tapering off towards the anterior end.

COMPARISONS

Among the ichthyofauna of the Carboniferous-Permian basins of France, the morphology of MHNT.PAL.2023.9.52 most closely resembles the fulcral scales of Progyrolepis (e.g. Štamberg 2016a, 2018). The ridge scales of Progyrolepis have indeed a triangular shape with ornamentation consisting of prominent ridges arranged anteroposteriorly ( Poplin 1999; Štamberg 2018). MHNT.PAL.2023.9.52 does not resemble aeduellid nor amblypterid fulcral scales, which lack highly visible ornamentation (e.g. Dietze 1999; Poplin & Dutheil 2005). Ultimately, MHNT.PAL.2023.9.52 resembles the fulcral scales of Progyrolepis , with several identical specimens already reported from the Carboniferous-Permian of the Massif Central (e.g. Štamberg 2018: 268, fig. 22I; Štamberg & Steyer 2021: 159; fig. 10B). The preservation of MHNT.PAL.2023.9.52 does not allow a more precise systematic attribution, so we refer this specimen to cf. Progyrolepis .