Palaeoniscum is an extinct genus of palaeoniscoid from the Permian of England, Turkey, North America, and more. The type species is Palaeoniscum freieslebeni. It is commonly misspelled as "Palaeoniscus" by many people.
Palaeoniscum is an extinct genus of palaeoniscoid from the Permian of England, Turkey, North America, and more. The type species is Palaeoniscum freieslebeni. It is commonly misspelled as "Palaeoniscus" by many people.
The palaeo part means "ancient" in Greek and the niscum part means "woodlouse".
This fish had a torpedo-shaped body and reached 30 cm. The dorsal fin was developed in height and the tail was forked. Palaeoniscum had a "swim bladder" made of air sacs. Its sharp teeth could grow back again when they were lost, just like today's sharks.
Palaeoniscum was probably a predatory carnivore.
Palaeoniscum is the type genus of the family Palaeoniscidae in the order Palaeonisciformes.
Palaeoniscum was named by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1818. However, it was mistakenly called Palaeoniscus by others.
