Ticinepomis is an extinct genus of coelacanth lobe-finned fish which lived during the Middle Triassic period in what is now Switzerland. It contains two species, T. peyeri and T. ducanensis.[2]
| Ticinepomis Temporal range: Lower Ladinian, | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fossil | |
 | |
| Reconstruction | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Sarcopterygii |
| Class: | Actinistia |
| Order: | Coelacanthiformes |
| Family: | Latimeriidae |
| Genus: | †Ticinepomis Rieppel, 1980 |
| Type species | |
| †Ticinepomis peyeri Rieppel, 1980 | |
| Other species | |
| |
Specimens of the species T. peyeri, which was named after Bernhard Peyer, are most common in the Besano Formation (or Grenzbitumenzone) of Monte San Giorgio in canton Ticino.[3] Other coelacanths from Monte San Giorgio include a larger species (tentatively referred to Holophagus picenus) from the Besano Formation,[4] and a species of Heptanema from the Meride Limestone.[5]
Larger Ticinepomis specimens have been found in the Prosanto Formation of canton Graubünden, originally referred to as Ticinepomis cf. T. peyeri.[6] A revision showed that this material belongs to a new species, T. ducanensis, remains of which were also discovered in the Besano Formation of canton Ticino.[2] The Prosanto Formation also produced the unusual coelacanths Foreyia and Rieppelia.
Classification
Ticinepomis was originally described as being a member of the family Coelacanthidae, being similar to Coelacanthus, Holophagus and Undina.[3] Later, T. peyeri was placed in Latimeriidae.[6] The bizarre Prosanto Formation latimeriid Foreyia is thought to be T. peyeri's closest relative, as they share many features despite their drastically contrasting appearances.[7]
