| Cipactlichthys Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| C. scutatus (holotype) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Clade: | Halecomorphi |
| Genus: | † Cipactlichthys Brito & Alvarado-Ortega, 2013 |
| Species: | †C. scutatus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Cipactlichthys scutatus Brito & Alvarado-Ortega, 2013 | |
Cipactlichthys is a genus of extinct holostean fish from the Lower Cretaceous of Mexico. The only known species is Cipactlichthys scutatus.
Cipactlichthys scutatus is known from two fossils discovered in the Tlayua Formation near the town of Tepexi de Rodríguez, in Puebla, Mexico. [1] The Tlayua Formation, is Albian (Early Cretaceous) in age, interpreted as an epicontinental marine deposit. Due to its high quality preservation and abundance of fish fossils, the formation is considered one of the most important sources of Cretaceous fishes in Mexico. [1] [2]
The genus name is a combination of Cipactli , the Aztec mythological sea monster said to be part fish and part reptile, and ichthys, Greek for "fish". [1] The specific epithet scutatus is Latin for shielded, referring to the large dorsal and ventral scutes. [1]
Cipactlichthys is an elongate fish, approximately 130 mm in total length, or 100 mm in standard length. Its dermal bones and scales are covered in ganoine and decorated with tubercles and ridges. The jaw extends to behind the rear end of the orbit. The pectoral fins are relatively long, with the first ray extending to the anterior edge of the pelvic fins. The caudal fin is forked and homocercal (upper and lower lobes of equal length). The dorsal fin contains at least 8 fin rays. The anal fin is larger than the dorsal fin and also bears at least 8 rays. The scales vary greatly in size and shape, with a series of large plate-like scutes along the dorsal and ventral midline behind the dorsal and anal fin. [1]
Cipactlichthys is classified in the clade Halecomorphi due to possession of a crescent-shaped preopercle and the involvement of the symplectic bone in jaw articulation. However, it has not yet been assigned to an order or family, instead considered a halecomorph of uncertain placement ( incertae sedis ). The only living halecomorph is the bowfin, Amia calva, but this group has a diverse fossil record. A phylogenetic analysis placed Cipactlichthys as sister to a clade containing Amiiformes and the extinct order Ionoscopiformes. [1]
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| Phylogenetic analysis of Brito & Alvarado-Ortega, 2013 [1] |
Perciformes, also called the Acanthopteri, is an order or superorder of ray-finned fish in the clade Percomorpha. Perciformes means "perch-like". Among the well-known members of this group are perch and darters (Percidae), sea bass and groupers (Serranidae).
Gars are an ancient group of ray-finned fish in the family Lepisosteidae. They comprise seven living species of fish in two genera that inhabit fresh, brackish, and occasionally marine waters of eastern North America, Central America and Cuba in the Caribbean, though extinct members of the family were more widespread. They are the only surviving members of the Ginglymodi, a clade of fish which first appeared during the Triassic, over 240 million years ago, and are one of only two surviving groups of holosteian fish, alongside the bowfins, which have a similar distribution.
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Rajiformes is one of the four orders in the superorder Batoidea, flattened cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. Rajiforms are distinguished by the presence of greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which reach as far forward as the sides of the head, with a generally flattened body. The undulatory pectoral fin motion diagnostic to this taxon is known as rajiform locomotion. The eyes and spiracles are located on the upper surface of the head and the gill slits are on the underside of the body. Most species give birth to live young, although some lay eggs enclosed in a horny capsule.
This glossary of ichthyology is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in ichthyology, the study of fishes.
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Holostei is a group of ray-finned bony fish. It is divided into two major clades, the Halecomorphi, represented by the single living genus, Amia with two species, the bowfins, as well as the Ginglymodi, the sole living representatives being the gars (Lepisosteidae), represented by seven living species in two genera. The earliest members of the clade appeared during the Early Triassic, over 250 million years ago.
Ichthyodectiformes is an extinct order of marine stem-teleost ray-finned fish. The order is named after the genus Ichthyodectes, established by Edward Drinker Cope in 1870. Ichthyodectiforms are usually considered to be some of the closest relatives of the teleost crown group.
Onychodus is a genus of prehistoric lobe-finned fish which lived during the Devonian period. It is one of the best known of the group of onychodontiform fishes. Scattered fossil bones of Onychodus were first discovered in 1857, in North America, and described by John Strong Newberry. Other species were found in Australia, England, Norway and Germany showing that it had a widespread range.
Araripichthys is an extinct genus of ray-finned fish that lived from the Aptian to Coniacian stages of the Cretaceous period. The genus is named after the Araripe Basin, where it was found in the Crato and Santana Formations. Other fossils of the genus have been found at Goulmima in Morocco, the Tlayua Formation of Mexico and the Apón Formation of Venezuela.
The Tlayúa Formation is an Early Cretaceous geological formation near Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla.
Pepemkay is an extinct genus of lissoberycine trachichthyid fish in prehistoric North America.
The Sierra Madre Formation is a geologic formation in Chiapas state, southern Mexico. It consists of marine dolomites and limestones. The formation dates to the Middle Cretaceous, spanning from the Aptian of the Early to the Cenomanian of the Late Cretaceous.
Armigatus is an extinct genus of clupeomorph fishes belonging to the order Ellimmichthyiformes. These fishes lived in the Cretaceous ; their fossil remains have been found in Mexico, Croatia, the Middle East and North Africa, suggesting the genus ranged across the Tethys Sea.
Goulmimichthys is an extinct genus of ray-finned fishes in the family Pachyrhizodontidae. The genus, first described by Cavin in 1995, is known from various Turonian age formations. The type species G. arambourgi from the Akrabou Formation in the El Rachidia Province of Morocco, and other fossils described are G. gasparini of the La Frontera Formation, Colombia, and G. roberti from the Agua Nueva Formation of Mexico.
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Tselfatiiformes is an extinct order of bony fishes from the infraclass Teleostei. The order represents the most important radiation of marine teleosts during the Cretaceous period. Fossils of tselfatiiforms are known from Europe, North America, central and northern South America, the Middle East and North Africa.
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