Because it is clear that the jaws and skull of Styloichthys share many derived features with coelacanthiformes[1] it is placed as the oldest coelacanth.

The lower jaw has a ventrally protruding flange formed by prearticular and meckelian bone.

Also characteristic of Styloichthys is the lyre-shaped trajectory of the supraorbital canal, a fenestra ventralis, small internasal cavities, three coronoids in the lower jaw, an eyestalk and a slender postorbital pila which connects the basipterygoid process and the side of the braincase wall.

A small depression serves for eye muscle attachment ventral to the eyestalk area.

Indication of three semilunar pockets along a shallow groove between the dentary and the prearticular shows that the lower jaw has three coronoids.