(Restoration of Ningxialepis spinosa)

A new antiarch, Ningxialepis spinosan. gen. n. sp., is described from the Zhongning Formation (Famennian, Late Devonian) of Shixiagou, Qingtongxia, Ningxia, northwestern China. It is characterized by the presence of X-shaped pit-lines, long obstantic margins, high dorsal median spine of the trunk armour formed from the anterior and posterior median dorsal plates, prominent dorsolateral and ventrolateral ridges of the trunk armour, and the anterior median dorsal plate partly overlapping the anterior dorsolateral plate.

A phylogenetic analysis of the Euantiarcha was performed based on a matrix of 48 characters scored for 25 taxa. The yunnanolepiform Parayunnanolepis and sinolepids Grenfellaspis and Dayaoshania were selected as outgroups, with 22 euantiarch taxa as the ingroup. Based on this phylogenetic analysis, Ningxialepisis placed as the sister taxon to Jiangxilepis in the Family Jiangxilepidae from South China. The Jiangxilepidae is redefined. The close affinity between Ningxialepis and Jiangxilepis further corroborates the geographic proximity between the North China and South China blocks in the Late Devonian.