Spicospina

Spicospina is a genus of extinct ray-finned fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Fossil remains of Spicospina have been found in what is now Egypt. This genus is known from a few fragmentary specimens, primarily consisting of scales and isolated bones. These fossils indicate that Spicospina was a relatively small fish, likely adapted to a shallow marine or brackish water environment. Its exact taxonomic placement is still under investigation, though it is generally considered to belong to the order Semionotiformes. The distinctive features of Spicospina include its rhomboidal scales, which are ornamented with radiating ridges. The genus name itself, Spicospina, is derived from Latin, meaning "spiny spine," likely referring to the spiny rays found in its fins. Further discoveries of more complete skeletons are needed to fully understand the anatomy, lifestyle, and evolutionary relationships of Spicospina.