What is Palaeonisciformes?
[[File:Palaeoniscus macropomus.jpg|thumb|''[[Palaeoniscum]]'']] The '''Palaeonisciformes''' (Palaeoniscida) are an extinct order of early [[Actinopterygii|ray-finned fishes]]. Palaeonisciformes ''sensu lato'' first appeared in the fossil record in the Late Silurian and last appeared in the Late Cretaceous. The name is derived from the [[Ancient Greek]] words παλαιός (''palaiós'', ancient) and ὀνίσκος (''oniskos'', 'cod-fish' or woodlouse), probably pertaining to the organization of the fishes' scales, similar to the exoskeletal plating of [[Sow bug|woodlice]]. == Classification == * '''Order''' †'''Palaeonisciformes''' <small>Hay, 1902</small> ''sensu stricto'' [Palaeoniscida <small>Moy-Thomas & Miles, 1971</small>] ** '''Family''' †'''Palaeoniscidae''' <small>Vogt, 1852</small> *** Genus ?†''[[Agecephalichthys]]'' <small>Wade, 1935</small> **** Species †''Agecephalichthys granulatus'' <small>Wade, 1935</small> *** Genus ?†''Atherstonia'' <small>Woodward, 18989</small> [''Broometta'' <small>Chabakov, 1927</small>] **** Species †''Atherstonia scutata'' <small>Woodward, 1889</small> [''Atherstonia cairncrossi'' <small>Broom, 1913</small>; ''Amblypterus capensis'' <small>Broom, 1913</small>; ''Broometta cairncrossi'' <small>Chabakov, 1927</small>] **** Species †''Atherstonia minor'' <small>Woodward, 1893</small> *** Genus ?†''Cryphaeiolepis'' <small>Traquair, 1881</small> **** Species †''Cryphaeiolepis scutata'' <small>Traquair, 1881</small> *** Genus ?†''Cteniolepidotrichia'' <small>Poplin & Su, 1992</small> **** Species †''Cteniolepidotrichia turfanensis'' <small>Poplin & Su, 1992</small> *** Genus †''Dicellopyge'' <small>Brough, 1931</small> **** Species †''Dicellopyge macrodentata'' <small>Brough, 1931</small> **** Species †''Dicellopyge lissocephalus'' <small>Brough, 1931</small> *** Genus ?†''Duwaichthys'' <small>Liu ''et al.'', 1990</small> **** Species †''Duwaichthys mirabilis'' <small>Liu ''et al.'', 1990</small> *** Genus ?†''Ferganiscus'' <small>Sytchevskaya & Yakolev, 1999</small> **** Species †''Ferga