JAW REMAINS OF A LARGE RAY-FINNED FISH (O STEICHTHYES - ACTINOPTERYGII) IN THE AUSTROALPINE UPPER TRIASSIC OF THE BERGUNER STOCKE (CANTON GRAUBUNDEN, SWITZERLAND) AND DISCUSSION OF THE VALIDITY OF BIRGERIA-COSTATA (MUNSTER 1839)

During stratigraphic field-studies in the Upper Triassic of Graubunden (Eastern Switzerland) the remains of a remarkable huge fish jaw have been found. Similar fossils are known from Germany, Great Britain and Italy; they either have been identified and described as Saurichthys c ostatus MUNSTER 1839, Birgeria costata (MUNSTER 1839) and Saurichthys longidens AGASSIZ 1843. In our view, the typical structure and ornamen tation of the huge laniaries do not allow a classification into any of the known species of the genera Saurichthys or Birgeria. Based on the fragmentary nature of the new and the previously described material w e renounce effecting a new genus.