Puhmakudena

Puhmakudena is a genus of extinct ray-finned fish that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. The genus is known from fossilized remains discovered in what is now North Africa. Puhmakudena belongs to the order Pholidophoriformes, a group of fish that represent an early radiation of teleosts, the group that includes most modern bony fish.

The fossils of Puhmakudena indicate that these fish possessed a relatively deep body with a single dorsal fin and a forked caudal fin. Their skeletal structure suggests they were adapted for life in freshwater or brackish environments. The dentition observed in Puhmakudena fossils points to a diet of small invertebrates or other small aquatic organisms.

The discovery of Puhmakudena contributes to our understanding of fish evolution during the Mesozoic Era. Its presence in North African deposits helps to map the distribution of early teleost fish across the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. While not as widely known as some other prehistoric fish, Puhmakudena serves as an important piece in the puzzle of early vertebrate diversification. Further research on its fossil remains may reveal more about its specific ecological niche and evolutionary relationships within the Pholidophoriformes.