Dipterus

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Dipterus
Fossil range: Mid to Late Devonian
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sarcopterygii
Subclass: Dipnoi
Family: Dipteridae
Genus: Dipterus

Dipterus ('two wings') is an extinct genus of lungfish from the Devonian period. It was about 35 cm (1 ft 2 in) long.

Like its ancestor Dipnorhynchus, Dipterus had tooth-like plates on its pallet instead of real teeth. It ate mostly invertebrates, and had lungs, not an air bladder. These were more developed in Dipterus and are still seen in modern day lungfish. Unlike its modern relatives, in which the dorsal, caudal and anal fin are fused into one, Dipterus's fins were still separated.