434 
QMF 31848-51: Eifelian ( ensensis Zone) to 
Givetian (Upper varcus Zone), with one specimen 
from a horizon older than ensensis Zone. 
Remarks 
The Broken River scale is a similar shape to those 
of ?Moythomasia sp. figured by Storrs (1987, figures 
5.1 and 5.2) from the Givetian to Frasnian of Iowa, 
although these scales lack the surface holes of the 
Broken River specimen. Two scales figured by 
Liszkowski and Rack! (1992, figures 9F and 91), 
described respectively as Moythomasia (?) sp. and 
undet-ermined palaeoniscoid, resemble the Broken 
River scale in general morphology. 
Description 
The slightly broken, abraded scale measures 
almost 2 mm in length. It is thin and flat, and 
ornamented with rows of irregularly spaced canal 
pores. These rows of pores lie between the ganoine 
ridges (Janvier 1974). The area of overlap by 
adjacent scale(s) is smooth (Stamberg 1988). There 
is evidence of a series of parallel ridges, now worn, 
alongside the anterior margin. The posterior edge 
extends into short, broad denticles (Figure 6A). 
The thin, conical teeth are attached to plates or 
bases (Figures 6C-F). The cusps range in length up 
to about 0.6 mm. The bases are generally thin and 
flat, and appear to consist of a less dense, bone-like 
tissue in contrast with the smooth, dense cusp 
material. Very few specimens have the acrodin tip 
still intact; in these, the delineation between the 
opaque enamel-coated main part of the tooth and 
the transparent tip is clearly marked. 
Discussion 
Moythomasia sp. is described as a whole specimen 
from the late Middle and early Late Devonian of 
Germany (Gross 1953) and the Frasnian Gogo 
Formation of WA (Gardiner 1984), and reported 
from Late Devonian unspecified horizons at 
Pandanus Creek, Broken River, Queensland (Long 
and Turner 1984), the Givetian of France (Lelievre 
et al. 1986), and the Late Devonian of Iran (Bartram 
1981). The Broken River scale differs in shape and 
ornament from other Early and Middle Devonian 
palaeoniscoid scales from eastern Australia, such 
as Ligulalepis loombsi (Schultze 1968; Giffin 1980) 
and indeterminate palaeoniscoid scales (Giffin 
1980, figure 11) from the Early Devonian Taemas 
Formation. 
The Broken River scale lacks the peg and socket 
articulation so it may have come from the area near 
the tail of the fish (Area D in Esin 1990, figure 2). 
In such scales the length exceeds the height, the 
peg and socket articulation is absent, and sculpture 
on the free field area of the scale is minimal (Esin 
1990). Also, the Broken River scale has a similar 
rhombic shape to the Amblypterina costata 
A.M. De Pomeroy 
(Eichwald) scale from Area D near the tail, figured 
by Esin (1990, plate VIII, figure 1). 
?Osteichthyan indet. 
Figures 5K-N 
Material 
Fifteen toothplate fragments (QMF 31843,4 and 
thirteen others). 
Localities 
SD15/66 m, SD128/78.2-188.4 m, SD131/117.7- 
208.3 m, SD164/24.7-117.7 m, SD204/115.9-120 m 
and SD216/96.2 m; Papilio Formation and Spanner 
Limestone. 
Stratigraphic range 
Givetian (Lower varcus to hermarmi-cristatus 
Zones). 
Description 
The fragments range up to about 2 mm long. The 
top is covered by closely-packed, blunt spatulate 
denticles (Figures 5L,M); the longer side of these 
denticles is parallel to the longer edge of the 
fragments. The denticles are up to 0.3 mm high, 
and have a central pulp cavity (arrow in Figure 
5L). The bony base has a wide shallow longitudinal 
groove on the underside, and its surface appears 
slightly porous and less dense than the surface of 
the unomamented denticles. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
I am indebted to Ruth Mawson and John Talent 
for supplying their material for study, and for 
giving valuable advice, support and 
encouragement at all stages of the project. Special 
thanks to Gavin Young and Sue Turner, who have 
given helpful advice and assistance with 
identification over a prolonged period; Glenn 
Brock for preparing Figure 2; and Michael 
Engelbretsen, Coral Gilkeson and Annabelle 
Gregor for assistance with SEM photography. 1 
thank Philippe Janvier, Jo Vergoossen, John Long, 
Anne Kemp, Carole Burrow, Jennifer Clack, Ross 
Parkes and Mark Hocking for useful discussion 
and suggestions regarding identification, Dianne 
Hughes for discussion of thin sections and use of 
her photographic equipment, Theresa Winchester- 
Seeto for helpful advice and encouragement, and 
Ken Rousell for drafting Figure 1. Thanks to Gavin 
Young, John Long, Sue Turner and an anonymous 
referee for suggesting improvements to earlier 
drafts of the manuscript. I am grateful to the 
Australian IGCP committee for awarding a Grant- 
in-Aid as financial assistance towards participation 
at the Premiers Vertebras et Vertebres Inferieurs 
