The _frontal_ is long, broad, and thick; the upper surface is
delicately sculptured in a somewhat different pattern from that seen
in the modern species. The _parietal_ is short and broad, while the
_epiotic_ is unusually narrow. The _mandible_ is long and slender;
the rami are incurved anteriorly, but apparently not to the same
extent as in _A. calva_. The articular has the shape of a long and
narrow wedge; it does not form a very close articulation with the
dentary. The dentary is long and comparatively slender, has a rounded
outline, and is occupied by an external row of large, and an internal
band of small teeth. The mandibular teeth, like those of the upper
jaw, are somewhat different from the teeth of _A. calva_; they are
shorter, stouter, and are not so much incurved or recurved. They
are very sharp, and show a constriction below the apex. The small
teeth are of the usual size and shape. The jugular plate is well
developed, and is long and narrow. The _hyoid arch_ is very much the
same as that shown in the recent species; the characteristic flat
branchiostegals are well marked; they appear to be thirteen in number.
The _scapular arch_ is long and stout. The _clavicle_ is strongly
bent, the supra-clavicle is short, and the _post-clavicle_ is long.
The pectoral fin is too indistinct for description.
The _vertebræ_ are of considerable depth in the anterior dorsal
region, and decrease steadily in size as they go backwards. The
neural spines are long and slender, and project strongly backwards.
The relation of the centra to the arches seems to be about that
seen in _A. calva_, but the neurapophyses are more slender. The
diapophyses are long and slender, in this respect differing from
the Bridger species and approaching the modern one. The dorsals are
thirty-five in number. The caudals number about forty-seven. They
have smaller centra, but longer and stronger neurapophyses than the
dorsals. The hæmal arch is long, and the hæmapophyses articulate
movably with the centra. The spines supporting the caudal fin rays
are very stout. The dorsal fin is long and soft, and has long
interneurals supporting short rays; these are fifty-three in number.
The anal fin, on the other hand, is very short, having but nine rays,
which are long and jointed, and articulate with short interhæmals.
The caudal fin appears to be of the usual form. The _femur_ is of the
general shape characteristic of _Amia_, but is not just like that of
_A. calva_. It is shorter, broader at the proximal end, while the
distal end is narrower, and has a deeper constriction just above it.
The ventral fins are placed under the middle of the dorsal region,
and have each ten rays. The scales are of the usual cycloidal shape,
and minutely striate.
_Measurements._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account