Boreosomus (meaning: "boreal body") is an extinct genus of Triassic marine ray-finned fish. It was first described from the Arctic island of Spitsbergen (Svalbard, Norway), hence its genus name, but was later also discovered in other parts of the world. The type species is Boreosomus arcticus (= Acrolepis arctica Woodward, 1912).

Classification

Boreosomus belongs to the family Ptycholepidae (= Boreosomidae/Chungkingichthyidae). Other genera of this family are Acrorhabdus (Spitsbergen), Ardoreosomus (Nevada, United States), Chungkingichthys (China), Ptycholepis (global) and Yuchoulepis (China). Some** studies recover Boreosomus as a potential chondrostean. **

Description

A characteristic feature of Boreosomus and other ptycholepids is the dorsal fin, which inserts at the level of the pelvic fins in the middle portion of the body. Most contemporary ray-fins have their dorsal fin in a more posterior position, often opposite to the anal fin. Also typical for ptycholepids are the somewhat rectangular, horizontally arranged suborbital bones. Boreosomus gillioti could reach a body length of about 10 - 20 cm. Caudal fin was divided. Scales were strong and rectangular.

Fossil record

Boreosomus had a worldwide distribution during the Early Triassic and is also known from the Middle Triassic. Fossils of Boreosomus were found, apart from Spitsbergen (Svalbard), in Greenland, Madagascar, China (Shaanxi), Spain (Catalonia), United States (Arizona), and Canada (British Columbia).

Species

Indeterminate species are known from the Early Triassic of Canada (British Columbia) and China (Guizhou), as well as the Middle Triassic of Svalbard, Spain, and possibly the United States (Arizona). The species B. merlei is now placed in Australosomus.