A new basal actinopterygian fish from the Late Ladinian of Monte San Giorgio (Canton Ticino, Switzerland)

A new basal actinopterygian fish species from the Late Ladinian period has been identified at Monte San Giorgio, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Switzerland. This discovery provides critical insights into the Redfieldiiformes group, a freshwater fish family whose presence in Europe remains debated due to limited fossil evidence. The specimen, found in Meride Limestone, exhibits unique morphological traits such as a single branchiostegal plate, an enlarged suboperculum, and distinctive scales, which challenge previous assumptions about this group's distribution. The study highlights the significance of Monte San Giorgio's fossil record in unraveling the evolutionary history of early actinopterygian fishes.

Lombardo, C. (2013). A new basal actinopterygian fish from the Late Ladinian of Monte San Giorgio (Canton Ticino, Switzerland). Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 106(2), 219–230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-013-0125-9