Neoceratodontidae

Neoceratodontidae is an extinct family of lungfishes that existed during the Cretaceous period, spanning from approximately 145 to 66 million years ago. This family is notable for its evolutionary significance as a transitional group between primitive and more advanced lungfish lineages. Fossil remains of Neoceratodontidae have been discovered primarily in marine and freshwater sediments across Europe, Africa, and Asia, with key sites including England, France, Morocco, and China.

Members of Neoceratodontidae were characterized by elongated, eel-like bodies, a feature that distinguished them from other lungfishes, which typically had more robust, fish-like forms. They possessed well-developed lungs, enabling them to survive in low-oxygen environments, a trait shared with modern lungfishes. Their skulls were relatively simple, lacking the complex cranial structures seen in later lungfish groups, such as the Lepidosirenidae and Protopteridae. Teeth were small and conical, adapted for a diet of soft invertebrates and possibly small fish.

The taxonomy of Neoceratodontidae includes several genera, such as *Neoceratodus*, *Ceratocephalus*, and *Paraceratodus*, though some classifications vary based on fossil evidence. These fish were part of a broader radiation of lungfishes during the Mesozoic era, reflecting their adaptability to diverse aquatic habitats. Their extinction coincided with the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) mass extinction event, which wiped out many marine and terrestrial species.

Neoceratodontidae fossils provide valuable insights into the evolutionary history of lungfishes, illustrating their gradual transition from marine to freshwater environments. Their study contributes to understanding the broader patterns of vertebrate evolution, particularly the development of specialized respiratory adaptations in fish.