What is Lepidotes?
{{Italic title}}[[File:Lepidotes gigas Holzmaden.jpg|thumb|''[[Lepidotes gigas]]'']] '''''Lepidotes''''' (from {{lang-gr|λεπιδωτός}} ''lepidōtós'', 'covered with scales') is an extinct [[genus]] of prehistoric [[ray-finned fish]]. Fossils have been found in [[Jurassic]] and [[Cretaceous]] rocks. It is a member of the [[Lepidotidae]] and has long been called a [[wastebasket taxon]]. It was originally called '''''Lepidotus'''''. == Description == ''Lepidotes'' was 30 cm (12 in) long. It is one example of a [[fish]] that didn't have the upper jawbones attached to the [[jugal bone]]. Some fish still have this feature, like a [[carp]]. It had a scaly and slightly elongated body. It had shiny scales with just a few punctures. ''Lepidotes'' likely ate soft-bodied [[animals]], as shown from stomach contents. It lived in both [[Fresh water|freshwater]] lakes and shallow [[Sea|seas]]. == Taxonomy == === Species === Four [[species]] are known: * <abbr>†</abbr>''[[Lepidotes elvensis]]'' <small>Blainville, 1818</small> * <abbr>†</abbr>''[[Lepidotes gigas]]'' <small>Agassiz, 1832</small> ([[type species]]) * <abbr>†</abbr>''[[Lepidotes semiserratus]]'' <small>Agassiz, 1836</small> * <abbr>†</abbr>''[[Lepidotes bülowianus]]'' <small>Jaekel, 1929</small> === Synonyms === * ''Lepidosaurus'' <small>Meyer, 1833</small> * ''Lepidotus'' <small>(former name)</small> * ''Serobodus'' <small>Münster, 1812</small> * ''Sphaerodus'' <small>Agassiz, 1833</small> * ''Plesiodus'' <small>Wagner, 1863</small> * ''Prolepidotus'' <small>Zeitschr, 1983</small> == Some species == === ''Lepidotes gigas'' === [[File:Lepidotes gigas.png|thumb|Life restoration of ''Lepidotes gigas'']] ''[[Lepidotes gigas]]'' is the [[type species]] of this genus. It is known from the [[Lower Jurassic]] of [[Germany]]. === ''Lepidotes bülowianus'' === ''[[Lepidotes bülowianus]]'' is another [[species]] of this genus. It is known from the [[Lower Jurassic]] of [[Germany]]. == Reassigned species == ''Lepidotes latifrons'' is now a species of ''[[Isanichthys]]''.