Characterization of coelacanth scales from the Early Cretaceous freshwater locality of Las Hoyas, upper Barremian (Cuenca, Spain)

Coelacanths are rare, mostly marine fishes, but the species from the Lower Cretaceous Spanish locality of Las Hoyas (Barremian) is a freshwater form and we know almost nothing about it. The Las Hoyas specimens are very rare and relatively incomplete, but there are still many things we can learn from the isolated skeletons and scales. First, the coelacanth scales were distinguished from other superficially similar scales (i.e., other “amioid” scales). Coelacanth scales are distinguished by the presence of a smooth central surface, a particular pattern of arrangement of concentric growth cessation marks, and mainly a relatively short posterior field with thick elongated ridges. Only a few art…