Neopetalichthys yenmenpaensis is an extinct Petalichthyida placoderm from the Early Devonian of China.
Fossils
The holotype and only known specimen is a poorly preserved partial, and elongated skull from
Emsian-aged strata in
Sichuan. The skull may be around in length.
Phylogeny
Denison 1978 questions
Neopetalichthys' placement within Petalichthyida, regarding it as Placodermi
incertae sedis, though he does acknowledge that the skull has anatomical features in common with petalichthyids.
). According to Zhu's 1991 redescription of
Diandongpetalichthys,
[Zhu, M. "New information on Diandongpetalichthys (Placodermi: Petalichthyida)." Early vertebrates and related problems of evolutionary biology. Science Press, Beijing (1991): 179-192.] Neopetalichthys' status as a petalichthyid is confirmed, though, in that study, it is regarded as a basal
incertae sedis.
Quasipetalichthys is possibly closely related to Neopetalichthys, and may or may not be placed together within Quasipetalichthyidae.
