Coccodus Pictet, 1850

Poyato-Ariza F. J. & Wenz S., 2002, A new insight into pycnodontiform fishes, Geodiversitas 24 (1), pp. 139-248 : 144-145

Genus Coccodus Pictet, 1850

TYPE SPECIES. — By monotypy: Coccodus armatus Pictet, 1850 . Cenomanian from Hakel, Lebanon. Holotype of Coccodus armatus by monotypy: specimen described and figured by Pictet (1850: 51, pl. 9, fig. 9; head and fragment of body, showing prearticular bone, not vomer as described by Pictet 1850). Currently housed at the Muséum de Genève. According to Meister (1993), the holotype figured by Pictet has the catalogue number V-674, while its unfigured counterpart has V-733.

INVALID SPECIES. —“ Coccodus ” lindstroemi Davis, 1890, Cenomanian from Hakel, Lebanon. Holotype: State Museum, Stockholm, in Davis (1890: 565, pl. 22; nearly complete specimen). This enigmatic form is certainly not a Coccodus . We have not observed any pycnodontiform synapomorphy in this species. For example, the opercular region does not seem reduced, and the observed teeth are not typically durophagous. Therefore, lindstroemi is a valid specific name, but “ Coccodus ” lindstroemi is not a valid species. It is not considered as a pycnodontiform, remains in need of revision, and is consequently not included in the analysis.

OBSERVED MATERIAL. — Coccodus armatus: MNHN HDJ-534a-b (almost complete, dorsal view), 539** (almost complete; lateral view), 540 (almost complete, lateral view), 542 (almost complete, head in ventral view), 543a-b (complete, ventral view), 1299** (dentition and part of the skull, lateral view), 1300 (complete), 1301a (complete); HAK-319** (complete specimen, dorsal view, only skull remains after transfer preparation), 1935 (skull fragment in lateral view). NHML: 4742 (almost complete, lateral view, figured by Davis 1887), 13868, 13869 (spine), 47912 (very incomplete, with part of the mandible), 47913; “ C. ” lindstroemi: HAK-1936a-b (complete, well preserved).