178 UPPER CRETACEOUS TELEOSTS 
Woodward (1901 : 230) presents some problems as to its relationships. It would 
seem to be most closely related to the dercetids and cimolichthyids as constituted in 
this work. Provisionally then it is placed as an addendum to the suborder Cimo- 
lichthyoidei and a new family Prionolepididae is created for its reception. There 
follow diagnoses and a description of the only completely preserved species, 
Prionolepis cataphractus. 
: me 
& =a 
6664 EES 
Fic. 82. Flank scutes of representative cimolichthyoids. (a) Dercetis triqueter Pictet. 
(B) Dercetis gracilis (Davis). (c) Rhynchodercetis gortani (d’Erasmo). (D) Pelargor- 
hynchus dercetiformis von der Marck. 
Family PRIONOLEPIDIDAE nov. 
Driacnosis. Body elongated and relatively shallow, neurocranium shallow and 
acutely pointed anteriorly. Post-temporal fossa roofed. Mesethmoid with large 
ventro-laterally directed, wing-like structures. Supratemporal sensory canal on the 
parietals and supratemporals. Maxilla stout with two prominent rows of teeth ; 
supramaxilla absent. Vertebrae approximately 45 in number of which at least 20 
are caudal. Dorsal fin short and in the middle of the back ; anal fin small and 
remote. Body bearing a single row of deep scutes which cover the whole flank 
region on either side. 
