Fig 1.
Summary of the Silurian sequence in Qujing (Yunnan, China), displaying the stratigraphic position of Sparalepis tingi gen. et sp. nov. and other vertebrate taxa of the Xiaoxiang fauna.
Modified after Zhu et al. [8].
Fig 2.
Sparalepis tingi gen. et sp. nov., holotype V17915.
A. Photograph of fossil specimen. B. Interpretative diagram of holotype. Abbreviations: cle, cleithrum; dfs1, 1st dorsal fin spine; dfs2, 2nd dorsal fin spine; dpg, dermal pelvic girdle; icl, interclavicle; mds median dorsal scale/scute; md1-4, 1st-4th median dorsal plates; pf.sp, pelvic fin spine; sp, pectoral fin spine; vrs, ventral ridge scale/scute.
Fig 3.
Sparalepis tingi gen. et sp. nov., holotype V17915. Detailed images of median dorsal plates and appendicular skeleton.
A. 1st (left) and 2nd (right) median dorsal plates in dorsal view. B. interclavicle and right dermal pelvic girdle. C. left cleithrum in flattened ventrolateral view. Abbreviations: dpg, dermal pelvic girdle; icl, interclavicle; sp, pectoral fin spine.
Fig 4.
Comparison of dermal pelvic girdles of stem-sarcopterygians.
A. Psarolepis romeri Yu, 1998, from the Lower Devonian Xitun Formation (Lockhovian) of Quijing, Yunnan. V17913.4 (reversed). B. Sparalepis tingi gen. et. sp. nov., holotype. C. Guiyu oneiros Zhu et al., 2009, from the Silurian Kuanti Formation (Pridoli) of Quijing, Yunnan. V17914.
Fig 5.
Scales of Sparalepis tingi gen. et sp. nov., holotype V17915.
A. generalised reconstructed silhouette of Sparalepis showing scale zones based on the scheme of Esin [30]. B. Area A scales from the right flank. C. Area A scales from the left flank. D. Area B scale in anterolateral view. E. Area E scales. Abbreviations: l.a, anterior ledge; n.a, anterior notch.
Fig 6.
Scales of Sparalepis tingi gen. et sp. nov., holotype V17915.
A. scales from areas C, G and H in basal view. B. Basal view of area C scale. Reconstructions of scales from (C) area A and (D) from the posterior section of area B. Abbreviations: g.a, anterior groove; g.p, posterior groove; k, keel; l.a, anterior ledge; l.p, posterior ledge; n.a, anterior margin of neck; n.p, posterior margin of neck; oa.vb, overlap area for ventral bulge; p, peg; p.ad, anterodorsal process; s, socket; vb, ventral bulge.
Fig 7.
Interpretative reconstruction of Sparalepis tingi gen. et sp. nov.
Consists of the available fossil elements visible on the holotype superimposed over a generalised silhouette of an early sarcopterygian.
Fig 8.
Phylogenetic relationships of Sparalepis tingi gen. et sp. nov.
Strict consensus (A) and 50% Majority-rule consensus (B) of the 2496 most parsimonious trees recovered in this study. See S1 Fig for synapomorphies at each node.
Fig 9.
Life restoration of Sparalepis tingi (foreground) and other fauna from the Kuanti Formation.
Also in the scene are numerous conodont animals, a pair of the maxillate placoderm Entelognathus (middle distance) and two examples of the osteichthyan Megamastax (background), the largest known Silurian vertebrate. Illustration by Brian Choo, released under Creative Commons Attribution Licence CC BY 4.0, 2016.