A New Tristichopterid (Pisces, Sarcopterygii) from the Devonian of Latvia

A new species of tristichopterid sarcopterygians, Eusthenopteron kurshi, sp. nov., the earliest representative of the family reported to this date from the territory known as the Main Devonian Field, is described from the well-known fossil locality of Latvia, the Lode clay quarry (Upper Givetian/Lower Frasnian). One complete skeleton and several disarticulated bone elements of the head and shoulder girdle have been found. The material reveals some morphologic features like a relatively short parietal shield in the cranial roof and rather asymmetric caudal fin. Characteristic features for the species are a front end of the squamosal extending comparatively far anteriorly and opercular being twice as high as the subopercular.