fˈɑːɹɹɪŋɡˌoʊlpiz hæd wˈɛldɪvˈɛləpt ˈeɪnəl ænd kˈɔːdəl fˈɪnz, bˌʌt nˈoʊ pˈɛɹd ɔːɹ dˈoːɹsəl fˈɪnz ðæt wʊdhɐv hˈɛlpt stˈeɪbəlˌaɪz ɪɾ ɪnðə wˈɔːɾɚ, ænd sˌoʊ wʌz pɹˈɑːbəbli ɐ pˈʊɹ swˈɪmɚ, ɹᵻmˈeɪnɪŋ klˈoʊs tə ðə sˈiː bˈɑːɾəm.
Pharyngolepis had  well-developed anal and caudal fins, but no paired or dorsal fins that would have helped stabilise it in the water, and so was probably a poor swimmer, remaining close to the sea bottom.