First Devonian dipnoans (Vertebrata, Sarcopterygii) from Spitsbergen

Abstract

For the first time, dipnoan remains are described from the Devonian of Spitsbergen. According to the stratigraphy and the associated vertebrate fauna, they are considered as Late Emsian–Early Eifelian in age. Unfortunately remains are too sketchy and non-diagnostic to be referred or compared to a known Devonian dipnoan. This new material, determined as Dipnoi gen. et sp. indet., is nevertheless important in biostratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical points of view, since it is amongst the earliest dipnoan occurrences, and the first one in the Devonian of Spitsbergen. To citer this article: G. Clément et al., C. R. Palevol 5 (2006) .