{{short description|Extinct genus of lobe finned fish}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = Late Devonian {{Fossil range|Frasnian}} | image = Strunius walteri body fossil.png | image_caption = Body fossil of ''S. walteri'' | image2 = Strunius rolandi (cropped).jpg | image2_caption = Artist's restoration of ''S. rolandi'' | taxon = Strunius | authority = Gross, 1956 | type_species = {{extinct}}'''''Strunius rolandi''''' | type_species_authority = Gross, 1956 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = *{{extinct}}'''''S. rolandi''''' <small>(Gross, 1956)</small><br /> *{{extinct}}'''''S. walteri''''' <small>(Jessen, 1966)</small> *1 unnamed species }}
'''''Strunius''''' is an extinct genus of lobe-finned fish from the Late Devonian period of Germany and Latvia. The genus contains two named species, ''S. rolandi'' and ''S. walteri'', as well as a third unnamed species from the Lode Quarry of Latvia.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Upeniece |first=Ieva |title=A new species of Strunius(Sarcopterygii; Onychodontida) from Latvia; Lode quarry (Upper Devonian) |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/213775369 |journal=ResearchGate}}</ref>
== Description == Although it was a lobe-finned fish, ''Strunius''' fins were supported by fin rays and appear closer in form to those of ray-finned fish. However, its skull was composed of two articulating halves, a feature characteristic of the lobe-finned rhipidistians. The skull was also divided by a deep articulation, with both halves probably connected by a large muscles, increasing the strength of the animal's bite.<ref name="EoDP">{{cite book |editor=Palmer, D.|year=1999 |title= The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals|publisher= Marshall Editions|location=London|page= 42|isbn= 1-84028-152-9}}</ref> The same system is seen in coelacanths and the better-known genus ''Eusthenopteron''.
Compared to other lobe-finned fishes, ''Strunius'' had a rather short, stubby body, and was just {{convert|10|cm|in|sigfig=1}} long. It was covered in large, round, bony scales, and probably fed on other fishes.<ref name="EoDP" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Portal|Paleontology}} {{Osteichthyes}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q3699097}}
Category:Onychodontida Category:Prehistoric lobe-finned fish genera Category:Late Devonian sarcopterygians Category:Devonian sarcopterygians of Europe
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