Libys

Libys; Temporal range: Jurassic
	Specimen of Libys at the Burgmeister Muller Museum, Solnhofen
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Sarcopterygii
Class:	Actinistia
Order:	Coelacanthiformes
Family:	Latimeriidae
Genus:	†Libys; Münster, 1842
Species
	Libys polypterus (Münster 1842) (type); Libys superbus (Zittel, 1887);

Libys is a genus of coelacanth fish in the family of Latimeriidae. Species of Libys lived during the Upper Jurassic period (Kimmeridgian - Tithonian, about 150 to 145 million years ago).

Description

Libys had an exceptionally squat body, especially when compared to other coelacanths of the same period as Undina and Holophagus. Libys could reach 60 centimeters in length and was therefore a medium-sized coelacanth, with a short and high skull. The pectoral fins were quite long, while the tail was remarkably short and high

Distribution

Fossils of these fishes have been found in Germany, in the famous deposits of Solnhofen.

Species

Libys superbus Reis, 1888
Libys polypterus

The genus Libys was erected in 1842 by Muenster. The species Libys polypterus was then established as the type species, on the basis of fragmentary remains. A second species, L. superbus, was described on the basis of complete large specimens, but most authors treat both as one species.