Glyptolepis from the Middle Devonian of Scotland

The Rhipidistia (Osteichthyes, Crossopterygii) comprise three superfamilies of Paleozoic fossil fishes, the Holoptychoidea, Osteolepoidea and Rhizodontoidea. Of these the members of the Holoptychoidea (families Holoptychidae and Porolepidae) are by far the least well known, and consequently there exists a considerable gap in our knowledge of the evolution of the Rhipidistia as a whole. The aim of this paper is to fill a small part of this gap by describing an unusually well-preserved specimen belonging to the holoptychid genus Glyptolepis. The specimen shows a considerable portion of the cranial anatomy, particularly the skull roof, and provides new information which is useful in determining the relationships of Glyptolepis to other members of the Rhipidistia.