Youngolepis

{{Short description|Extinct genus of lungfish}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = Early Devonian

| image = Youngolepis praecursor Fig1.jpg

| image_caption = Photograph (a) & virtual rendering (b) of specimen IVPP V28375 in dorsal view

| taxon = Youngolepis

| type_species = †Youngolepis praecursor

| type_species_authority = Chang & Yu, 1981

}}

Youngolepis is a genus of prehistoric lungfish which lived during the Early Devonian period (Lochkovian to Pragian stages, about 407-416 million years ago). Fossils of Y. praecursor have been found in the Xitun Formation of China & the Bac Bun Formation of Trang Xa, Vietnam.{{Cite journal |last1=Cui |first1=Xindong |last2=Friedman |first2=Matt |last3=Qiao |first3=Tuo |last4=Yu |first4=Yilun |last5=Zhu |first5=Min |date=2022-05-02 |title=The rapid evolution of lungfish durophagy |journal=Nature Communications |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=2390 |doi=10.1038/s41467-022-30091-3 |pmid=35501345 |pmc=9061808 |bibcode=2022NatCo..13.2390C |s2cid=248504614 |issn=2041-1723}} Some additional fossil specimens from the Xishancun Formation of China have been referred to Youngolepis sp. & represent the oldest known occurrence of the genus.{{Cite journal |last1=Zhu |first1=Min |last2=Fan |first2=Junhang |date=1995 |title=Youngolepis from the Xishancun Formation (Early Lochkovian) of Qujing; China |url=https://www.academia.edu/1810052 |journal=Geobios |volume=28 |pages=293–299 |doi=10.1016/S0016-6995(95)80130-8 |bibcode=1995Geobi..28..293Z |issn=0016-6995}} In addition, Y. praecursor is also found in the Xujiachong formation