Jingszo !

We highlight taxonomic misidentifications to show that coelacanth specimens from the British Rhaetian have been confused as far back as the late 1800s.

Numerous morphotypes of many bones in the sample hint at a complex community structure, with individuals of varying age, size, and likely several species, supported within the ecosystem.

The fossil occurrences suggest these Triassic coelacanths preferred shallow water environments, matching our observation that many specimens pertain to Mawsoniidae, a clade elsewhere reported from brackish, near-shore conditions.

In light of recent findings, the new specimens reinforce a European Triassic diversification for Mawsoniidae, which probably influenced their subsequent diversification and dispersion during the Jurassic.