Several new fossil taxa of jawless vertebrates, placoderms, cartilaginous fishes, bony fishes, and other fishes were described during the year 2025, which also saw other significant discoveries and events related to paleoichthyology.
Jawless vertebrates NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesDeanaspisGen. et sp. novJunior homonymLin et al.SilurianXikeng FormationA member of Galeaspida. Genus includes new species D. longpingi. The generic name is preoccupied by Deanaspis Hughes, Ingham & Addison (1975).Neoturinia rossensisSp. novBurrow & TurnerDevonianParke SiltstoneA thelodont.
Jawless vertebrate research Märss (2025) revises jawless vertebrates from the Silurian (Wenlock) to Devonian (Lochkovian) strata of the Ufa Amphitheatre (Russia), and names a new family Tahulaspididae within Osteostraci. Sanchez-Sanchez, Sanisidro & Ferrón (2025) study the hydrodynamic performance of headshield processes of members of Pteraspidomorphi, reporting evidence of repeated, independent evolution of frontal, dorsal and lateral processes in response to functional demands. A study on the phylogenetic relationships of members of Heterostraci is published by Randle, Keating & Sansom (2025). Schnetz et al. (2025) reconstruct the whole-body morphology of Anglaspis heintzi, and interpret its oral apparatus as indicative of adaptation to suspension feeding. Gai et al. (2025) review the fossil record of galeaspids from China and Vietnam. Miyashita et al. (2025) provide new information on the anatomy of the head–trunk interface in Norselaspis glacialis, reporting evidence of presence of features previously known only in jawed vertebrates, and interpret their findings and indicative of evolution of sensory elaborations and increase of cardiac output and locomotory control in vertebrates before the appearance of the vertebrate jaw.
Placoderms NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesAlbarutheniaspisGen. et sp. novNewman & PlaxDevonian (Famennian)A member of the family Groenlandaspididae. The type species is A. bessonovae.Bothriolepis zhujiangyuanensisSp. novValidXian et al.Devonian (Eifelian)Shangshuanghe FormationElmosteusGen. et comb. novValidJobbins et al.DevonianElm Point Formation()A basal dunkleosteid placoderm; a new genus for "Eastmanosteus" lundarensis Hanke, Stewart & Lammers (1996).Microbrachius longiSp. novValidMark-Kurik et al.Devonian (Givetian)Burtnieki FormationRomundina gagnieriSp. novOlive et al.Devonian (Lochkovian)Drake Bay Formation()TongdulepisGen. et sp. novValidLuo, Pan & ZhuDevonian (Eifelian)Qujing FormationA member of Bothriolepidoidei belonging to the family Tubalepididae. The type species is T. concavus.
Placoderm research Babcock (2025) designates the neotype for Macropetalichthys rapheidolabis and the lectotype for Agassichthys manni, redescribes the lectotype of Agassichthys sullivanti, and interprets A. manni, A. sullivanti and Pterichthys norwoodensis as junior synonyms of M. rapheidolabis. Pears et al. (2025) reconstruct the appendicular skeleton and musculature of arthrodires from the Devonian Gogo Formation (Australia), providing evidence of anatomical similarity of fins and musculature of the studied specimens. Redescription and a study on the affinities of Exutaspis megista is published by Xue et al. (2025). Trinajstic et al. (2025) describe new fossil material of Bullerichthys fascidens from the Devonian Gogo Formation (Australia), providing new information on the morphology of the headshield in the studied species, as well as evidence resorption and remodelling of teeth similar to those seen in bony fishes. Engelman et al. (2025) present a new reconstruction of parts of skeleton and musculature of Dunkleosteus terrelli involved in feeding.
Cartilaginous fishes NameNoveltyStatusAuthorsAgeType localityLocationNotesImagesAltacollumGen. et sp. novValidNewman & PlaxDevonian (Famennian)Starobin BedsAn acanthodian. The type species is A. valiukeviciusi.AngelacanthusGen. et comb. novValidGess & BurrowDevonian (Famennian)Waterloo Farm lagerstätteA diplacanthid acanthodian. The type species is "Diplacanthus" acus Gess (2001). Antrigoulia guinotiSp. novValidDuffin & BatchelorEarly CretaceousLower Greensand GroupApolithabatisGen. et sp. novTürtscher et al.Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)Painten FormationA ray in the new clade Apolithabatiformes. The type species is A. seioma.ArchaeogracilidensGen. et comb. novValidVillalobos-Segura et al.Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)A member of Hexanchiformes belonging to the family Orthacodidae. The type species is "Oxyrhina" macer Quenstedt (1851).ArchaeoscylliumGen. et comb. novValidBegat et al.Middle Jurassic (Callovian)A member of Orectolobiformes. The type species is "Protospinax" muftius Thies (1982).BatillodusGen. et sp. novValidDuffin, Lauer & LauerCarboniferous (Kasimovian)Kansas City Group()A member of Petalodontiformes belonging to the family Janassidae. The type species is B. beaveri.Callorhinchus orientalisSp. novValidOta et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Hakobuchi FormationA species of Callorhinchus.Centrodeania perchensisSp. novFeichtinger et al.Late CretaceousA member of the family Centrophoridae.Chiloscyllium serralheiroiSp. novValidLandau, Hovestadt & SilvaMiocene (Tortonian)Cacela FormationA species of Chiloscyllium.ClavusodensGen. et sp. novValidHodnett et al.Carboniferous (Viséan)Ste. Genevieve Formation()A member of Petalodontiformes belonging to the family Obruchevodidae. The type species is C. mcginnisi.CoquandonNom. novValidGreenfieldLate Cretaceous (Coniacian)A probable member of Galeomorphii; a replacement name for Orthodon Coquand (1859).Cynopodius robustusSp. novValidBurrow et al.Carboniferous (Viséan)Ste. Genevieve Formation()Dasyatis manuelcamposiSp. novValidVillafaña et al.MioceneBahía Inglesa FormationA species of Dasyatis. Distobatus potiguarenseSp. novBrito et al.CretaceousAçu FormationA member of Hybodontiformes belonging to the family Distobatidae.Dorsetoscyllium belbekensisSp. novTrikolidiEarly Cretaceous (Berriasian)CrimeaA carpet shark. Published online in 2025, but the issue date is listed as December 2024.Echinorhinus taveraiSp. novOtero et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)A species of Echinorhinus.EorapaxGen. et sp. novValidSaugen et al.Early TriassicVikinghøgda FormationA neoselachian. The type species is E. serrasis.Galeocerdo platycuspidatumSp. novValidCicimurri et al.OligoceneCatahoula Formation()A species of Galeocerdo.HeckelodesNom. novValidGreenfieldOligoceneA probable member of Galeomorphii; a replacement name for Galeodes Heckel (1854).Hemipristis intermediaSp. novValidCicimurri et al.OligoceneCatahoula Formation()A species of Hemipristis.Hypanus? heterodontusSp. novValidCicimurri et al.OligoceneCatahoula Formation()A whiptail stingray.JurascylliumGen. et comb. novValidBegat et al.Jurassic (Bathonian to Kimmeridgian)A member of Orectolobiformes. The type species is "Protospinax" magnus Underwood & Ward (2004).Lethenia carranzaensisSp. novValidOteroEocene-OligoceneMillongue FormationLonchidion conrugisSp. novWick & LehmanLate Cretaceous (Campanian)Aguja Formation()MacadensGen. et sp. novValidHodnett et al.Carboniferous (Viséan)Ste. Genevieve Formation()A member of Euchondrocephali of uncertain affinities. The type species is M. olsoni.ModicucollumGen. et sp. novValidNewman & PlaxDevonian (Famennian)Velizhie BedsAn acanthodian. The type species is M. golubtsovi.NdhalalepisGen. et sp. novBurrow & TurnerDevonianParke SiltstoneAn acanthodian. The type species is N. youngi.Palaeocentroscymnus bavaricusSp. novFeichtinger et al.Late CretaceousA member of the family Somniosidae.Palaeorhincodon fialhoiSp. novValidLandau, Hovestadt & SilvaMiocene (Tortonian)Cacela FormationParalopiasGen. et sp. novValidCanevetMiocene (Serravallian)A thresher shark. Genus includes new species P. follioti.Pararhincodon torquisSp. novValidDearden et al.Late CretaceousChalk GroupA carpet shark belonging to the stem group of the family Parascylliidae.PochitaserraGen. et sp. novValidVillafaña et al.MioceneBahía Inglesa FormationA sawshark. The type species is P. patriciacanalae. Named after the character Pochita from the manga/anime Chainsaw Man. Pseudocorax heteroserratusSp. novValidEgli et al.Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian)Oulad Abdoun BasinPseudorhina carinataSp. novValidDuffin & BatchelorEarly CretaceousLower Greensand GroupPseudorhina clopellensisSp. novValidDuffin & BatchelorEarly CretaceousLower Greensand GroupPseudorhina magnapraecinctoriumSp. novValidDuffin & BatchelorEarly CretaceousLower Greensand GroupRestesia corrickiSp. novWick & LehmanLate Cretaceous (Campanian)Aguja Formation()RotuladensGen. et comb. novValidHodnett et al.Carboniferous (Tournaisian-Viséan)Keokuk Limestone()A member of Euchondrocephali of uncertain affinities. The type species is "Helodus" coxanus Newberry (1897).Scapanorhynchus patagonensisSp. novValidBegat et al.Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)SerpensiugumGen. et sp. novValidNewman & PlaxDevonian (Famennian)Starobin BedsAn acanthodian. The type species is S. pushkini."Sphyrna" gracileSp. novValidCicimurri et al.OligoceneCatahoula Formation()A hammerhead shark."Sphyrna" robustumSp. novValidCicimurri et al.OligoceneCatahoula Formation()A hammerhead shark.Strophodus timoluebkeiSp. novValidCarrillo-Briceño et al.Late JurassicSulzfluh Limestone Formationcf. Synechodus rotheliusiSp. novValidSaugen et al.Early TriassicVikinghøgda FormationVerrucasquamaGen. et sp. novValidNewman & PlaxDevonian (Famennian)Starobin BedsAn acanthodian. The type species is V. antipenkoi.WimanodonGen. et sp. novValidSaugen et al.Early TriassicVikinghøgda FormationA neoselachian. The type species is W. marmieri.Xiphodolamia malikiSp. novValidArtüz & SakınçEocene (Lutetian)Soğucak Formation
Cartilaginous fish research Griffin et al. (2025) study the morphological diversity of jaws of cartilaginous fishes throughout their evolutionary history, providing evidence of a shift from morphologies optimized for strength and speed toward more robust ones. Evidence from the study of teeth of Ctenacanthus concinnus, Phoebodus saidselachus and Maghriboselache mohamezanei, indicative of high diversity of histology and mineralisation patterns early in the evolution of cartilaginous fishes, is presented by Greif et al. (2025). A study on the development of the dermal skeleton of Fanjingshania renovata is published by Andreev et al. (2025). A diverse assemblage of cartilaginous fish fossils, including the youngest record of Phoebodus latus reported to date, is described from the Upper Devovian strata from the South Urals (Russia) by Ivanov et al. (2025). A study on the composition of the Permian fish assemblages from the Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Texas, United States), including the youngest records of Bransonella lingulata, Stethacanthulus decorus, Glikmanius myachkovensis and Heslerodus divergens in the world, is published by Ivanov, Hearst & Nestell (2025). Li et al. (2025) report the discovery of a new fish assemblage dominated by cartilaginous fishes from the Permian (Changhsingian) Dalong Formation (Sichuan, China), including a probable neoselachian which might represent the earliest record of a cartilaginous fish with holaulacorhize-like root vascularization. A study on the development and evolution of tenaculum and its tooth-like denticles in chimaeras, as indicated by their development during ontogeny in extant spotted ratfish and by anatomy of Carboniferous Helodus simplex, is published by Cohen, Coates & Fraser (2025), who interpret the denticles of the tenaculum as more likely to be true teeth than modified dermal denticles. Zhao et al. (2025) interpret Laffonia helvetica as a holocephalan egg capsule morphologically intermediate between Carboniferous Crookallia and Vetacapsula and extant chimaerid capsules.