The cranial roof of Dipnorhynchus sussmilchi (Eth. Fil.)
Abstract
[Introduction] In 1933, the writer published a description of the cranial roofing-bones of Dipnorhynchus sussmilchi (Eth. fil.), based on an examination of the external features of the type and only specimen, which is preserved in the Australian Museum, Sydney (Reg. No. F.10813). This dipnoan skull was discovered by Mr. C. A. Süssmilch in the Middle Devonian limestones of Taemas, New South Wales, and was originally described as (?) Ganorhynchus sussmilchi by R. Etheridge, Jnr., in 1906. In 1927, Jaekel erected the new genus Dipnorhynchus for the specimen, the name being accompanied by an unlabelled original figure, but no written description. In view of the fact that the genus Ganorhynchus Traquair is not capable of precise definition and is applicable only to cosmine-covered dipnoan snouts (see Traquair, 1873; Newberry, 1889; Dutertre, 1929; Gross, 1933, 1937), it is undoubtedly preferable to designate the excellently preserved skull from Taemas as a new genus, the name Dipnorhynchus Jaekel being here regarded as valid (see also remarks in Hills, 1933, pp. 634-5).
