Dear Mark,

To the best of my knowledge the answer is No.

The fossil polypterids reported in the literature are from the Cretaceous of Africa and from the Cretaceous/Paleocene of South America. Some of the African ones are better preserved than the South American ones.  If you would like to have some references, I can provide you with. 

Thank you, Gloria! Yes, I would appreciate some references.

Thanks again, Mark

Dear Mark, 

Two references concerning Cretaceous polypteriforms and possible contacts:

Dutheil D.1999 - The first articulated fossil cladistian, Serenoichthys kemkemensis. J. Vert. Paleont. 19:243-246.

Gayet M., Meunier F. 1991. Noveaux Polypteryformes du gisement Conicien-Senomien de l’In Becetem (Niger). Comptes Reendus de l’Acad. Sci. Paris IIa. 322: 701-707.

Didier Dutheil (Paris) has other papers on Cretaceous bichirs published in Mesozoic Fishes, but you should contact him to ask for the papers (because of copyright constrains). You can contact him here, in RG.  

Olga Otero (Poitiers) has published on younger bichirs. You can reach her in RG.

All the best,

Gloria

Hi Mark cretaceous is too "recent" for me! cheers