Watsonulus

Watsonulus is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish that lived during the Early Triassic epoch in what is now Madagascar.^[2][1] It may have also existed in what is now Himachal Pradesh, India, during the Induan age (Early Triassic).^[3] The type species, described by Jean Piveteau, is Watsonia eugnathoides. Because "Watsonia" was preoccupied, the new genus name Watsonulus was later erected. The genus is named after David Meredith Seares Watson.

Watsonulus Temporal range: Induan[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Watsonulus eugnathoides type
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	†Parasemionotiformes
Family:	†Parasemionotidae
Genus:	†Watsonulus Brough, 1939
Species:	†W. eugnathoides
Binomial name
†Watsonulus eugnathoides (Piveteau, 1934)
Synonyms
Watsonia Piveteau, 1934 (non Watsonia de Folin, 1880)

Classification

Albertonia cupidinia also had large pectoral fins

Watsonulus belongs to Parasemionotidae, a family of early neopterygians closely related with halecomorphs. Other members of Parasemionotidae include Albertonia, Candelarialepis, Icarealcyon, Jacobulus, Lehmanotus, Parasemionotus, Qingshania, Stensioenotus, Suius, and Thomasinotus.

Similar to Albertonia (Early Triassic of Canada) and Icarealcyon, the pectoral fins of Watsonulus were fairly large.^[3]

See also

• Paleontology portal
• Fish portal

• Prehistoric fish
• List of prehistoric bony fish