Ctenothrissiformes

Ctenothrissiformes Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, Cenomanian–Turonian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Fossil of Ctenothrissa vexillifer
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Clade:	Acanthomorpha
Order:	† Ctenothrissiformes Berg 1937
Families
Aulolepidae Patterson 1964 Ctenothrissidae Woodward 1901
Synonyms
Ctenothrissoidei

Ctenothrissiformes is an extinct order of prehistoric acanthomorph ray-finned fish, known from the mid-late Cretaceous of Europe and the Middle East.

Taxonomy

• Order CtenothrissiformesBerg 1937 ^{[1] [2]}
  • Family † Aulolepidae Patterson 1964
    • Genus † Aulolepis Agassiz 1836 non Geinitz 1849
      • †A. reussiGeinitz 1849
      • †A. typaAgassiz 1844
    • Genus † Cyclolepis Geinitz 1868 non Gillies ex Don 1832 non Moquin-Tandon 1834
      • †C. agassiziGeinitz 1868
      • †C. stenodinaCockerell 1919
  • Family † Ctenothrissidae Woodward 1901
    • Genus † Heterothrissa Gaudant 1978
      • †Heterothrissa signeuxaeGaudant 1978
    • Genus † Ctenothrissa Woodward 1899
      • †C. enigmaticaGaudant 1978
      • †C. microcephala(Agassiz 1835-1838) [Beryx microcephalusAgassiz 1835-1838]
      • †C. protodorsalisGaudant 1978
      • †C. radians(Agassiz 1835-1838) [Beryx radiansAgassiz 1835-1838]
      • †C. signiferHay 1903
      • †C. vexillifer(Pictet 1850) [Beryx vexilliferPictet 1850]

During the mid-20th century, it was briefly suspected that the ctenothrissiforms could be a Lazarus taxon that survived to the modern day, based on the discovery of specimens of the deep-sea fish "Macristium", which closely resembled the extinct Ctenothrissa. However, further discoveries of "Macristium" specimens proved that this genus actually represented the larval form of the aulopiform Bathysaurus , refuting the speculation over surviving ctenothrissiforms. ^[3]

Timeline of genera

References

1. Haaramo, Mikko (2007). "Polymixiomorpha – beardfishes and relatives". Mikko's Phylogeny Archive. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
2. "Part 7- Vertebrates". Collection of genus-group names in a systematic arrangement. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
3. Taylor, Christopher. "Living Larvae and Fossil Fish" . Retrieved 2025-04-06.

• Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 363: 1–560. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-05-17.