A new Perleidiform (Actinopterygii, Osteichthyes) from the Middle Anisian (Middle Triassic) of Yunnan, South China

A new actinopterygian genus, Luopingichthys gen. nov., is described on the bases of two complete specimens from the Pelsonian (Middle Anisian, Middle Triassic) of Luoping, Yunnan Province, South China. It is ascribed to the perleidiform family Polzbergidae due to the synapomorphy of the peculiar premaxillary-maxillary complex, i.e. the fusion between premaxillary and maxillary along the antero-dorsal margin of the maxillary. It differs from the deep-bodied representatives of the family, Felberia and Stoppania, for its fusiform or deep fusiform body shape, the sickle-shaped preopercular with short infraorbital process, the lacking of modified scales at the base of the anal fin, the short-based dorsal fin, the scarcely ornamented scales and the thin anterior teeth . The systematic position of the taxon Ctenognathichthys hattichi from the Middle Triassic Prosanto Formation (Ladinian), Canton Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, is also discussed, based on the redescription of the holotype, the only known specimen. It shows the same fusion between premaxillary and maxillary typical of the family Polzbergidae; therefore it is proposed as a further representative of this group, belonging to the new genus here described.