Mandageria

Mandageria fairfaxi (Pronunciation: Man-daj-ee-ree-a fair-fax-i) is an extinct lobe-finned fish^[1] that lived during the Late Devonian period (Frasnian – Famennian). It is related to the much larger Hyneria; although Mandageria was smaller, likely hunted in a similar manner.

Mandageria Temporal range: Late Devonian
Skull
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Sarcopterygii
Clade:	Tetrapodomorpha
Clade:	Eotetrapodiformes
Family:	†Tristichopteridae
Genus:	†Mandageria Johanson & Ahlberg, 1997
Species:	†M. fairfaxi
Binomial name
†Mandageria fairfaxi Johanson & Ahlberg, 1997

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The generic epithet, Mandageria, refers to the Mandagery Sandstone, outcropping near Canowindra, Australia, where the fossils were found. The specific epithet, fairfaxi, honors the philanthropist James Fairfax. M. fairfaxi is the state fossil emblem for New South Wales.^[2]

Description

Reconstruction of Mandageria

Mandageria was a large predator about 1.6 metres (5.2 ft) long.^[1][3] It had a long torpedo-shaped body and large tail fins. Mandageria also had large pectoral fins which could have helped it manoeuvre around submerged logs when preparing to attack its prey.^[1] Mandageria had a functional neck joint, an otherwise uncommon feature among fish - Tiktaalik, Tarrasius, placoderms (esp. Arthrodira) and seahorses being other exceptions.^[4]