A new Perleididae from the Spathian (Olenekian, Early Triassic) of Chaohu, Anhui Province, China

A new actinopterygian genus and species, Chaohuperleidus primus gen. n. sp. n., is described from the Upper Member of the Nanlinghu Formation (Spathian, Olenekian, Early Triassic) at Majiashan (Majia Hill), Chaohu City, Anhui Province, Southeast China. The new taxon is assigned to the order Perleidiformes on the base of a combination of features, such as large wedge-like preoperculum with expanded infraorbital process with the sensory canal running almost vertical along the posterior margin of the preoperculum itself and flank scales are somewhat higher than longer in the trunk region and presence of epaxial rays in the caudal fin. Among Perleidiformes, the new taxon belongs to the Perleididae, being very similar to Perleidus in the general body shape, pattern of the skull bones, the dentition made of peg-like marginal teeth,and number of epaxial rays. The new genus is characterized by the presence of a very large antero-dorsal process on the suboperculum, a high number (about 55) of transversal scale rows and dorsal and anal fin quite posterior. Chaohuperleidus gen. n. being Spathian in age, represents the oldest record of the order Perleidiformes.