Enchelurus Temporal range: | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Superorder: | Elopomorpha |
Genus: | † Enchelurus von der Marck 1863 |
Type species | |
†Enchelurus villosus von der Marck, 1863 | |
Species | |
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Enchelurus (Greek for "eel tail") is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous. [1] It contains three species, known from the Cenomanian to Campanian of Europe and the Middle East. [2] [3]
The following species are known: [2] [3]
Its taxonomic affinity remains uncertain; it was initially classified as an early halosaur in the order Notacanthiformes, and continues to be treated as such by some authorities. However, other studies have found it to be an elopomorph related to the common ancestor of Anguilliformes and Notacanthiformes [5] [6] [7] , or even an early anguilliform itself. [8]
The Myctophiformes are an order of ray-finned fishes consisting of two families of deep-sea marine fish, most notably the highly abundant lanternfishes (Myctophidae). The blackchins (Neoscopelidae) contain six species in three genera, while the bulk of the family belongs to the Myctophidae, with over 30 genera and some 252 species.
Halosaurs are eel-shaped fishes found only at great ocean depths. As the family Halosauridae, halosaurs are one of two families within the order Notacanthiformes; the other being the deep-sea spiny eels, Notacanthidae. Halosaurs are thought to have a worldwide distribution, with some 17 species in three genera represented. Only a handful of specimens have been observed alive, all in chance encounters with Remotely operated underwater vehicles.
Enchodus is an extinct genus of aulopiform ray-finned fish related to lancetfish and lizardfish. Species of Enchodus flourished during the Late Cretaceous, and there is some evidence that they may have survived to the Paleocene or Eocene; however, this may just represent reworked Cretaceous material.
Berycopsis is an extinct genus of marine ray-finned fish from the Late Cretaceous period. Fossils are known from England, Germany, and Lebanon. A potential specimen is known from the Czech Republic.
Cimolichthys is an extinct genus of large predatory marine aulopiform ray-finned fish known worldwide from the Late Cretaceous. It is the only member of the family Cimolichthyidae.
Acanthomorpha is an extraordinarily diverse taxon of teleost fishes with spiny fin rays. The clade contains about one-third of the world's modern species of vertebrates: over 14,000 species.
Belonostomus is a genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish that was described by Louis Agassiz in 1844. It is a member of the order Aspidorhynchiformes, a group of fish known for their distinctive elongated rostrums.
Apateodus is a genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish which was described by Woodward in 1901. It was a relative of modern lizardfish and lancetfish in the order Aulopiformes, and one of a number of prominent nektonic aulopiforms of Cretaceous marine ecosystems.
Enchelion is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous. It contains a single species, E. montium known from the upper Cenomanian of the Haqel locality of the Sannine Formation in Lebanon. It is the only member of the family Encheliidae.
Anguillavus is an extinct genus of basal marine eel that lived during the Late Cretaceous of Lebanon, where it is known from the Sannine Formation.
Echidnocephalus is an extinct genus of prehistoric halosaur known from the Late Cretaceous. It is the earliest known definitive member of the order Notacanthiformes.
Elopopsis is an extinct genus of marine ray-finned fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous of Europe, North Africa and North America. It was a member of the Crossognathiformes, in the family Pachyrhizodontidae.
Anomoeodus is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pycnodontidae. This genus primarily lived during the mid-to-late Cretaceous period, ranging from the Albian to the very end of the Maastrichtian age, and possibly into the Danian. The first fossils of Anomoeodus were described by Louis Agassiz in 1833, although they were described under Pycnodus. Some studies have recovered it as a wastebasket taxon.
Ctenothrissa is a prehistoric genus of marine ray-finned fish in the order Ctenothrissiformes. It contains a number of species known from the Late Cretaceous of England and Lebanon.
Cretatriacanthus is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish from the Late Cretaceous. It contains a single species, C. guidottii from the late Campanian or early Maastrichtian of Nardò, Italy. It is generally placed as a basal tetraodontiform, although more recent studies have disputed this, finding it to instead represent an early basal percomorph.
Clupavus is an extinct genus of marine ray-finned fish that lived during the middle of the Cretaceous period. It is known from North Africa, Europe, Brazil, and possibly North America.
Dinelops is an extinct genus of marine ray-finned fish from the Late Cretaceous. It contains a single species, D. ornatus, from the Cenomanian of England. It was initially and often continues to be classified in the Osmeroididae, a family of extinct elopomorph fish that are placed in either the Albuliformes or Elopiformes. However, other studies place Osmeroides in the Albuliformes and Dinelops in the Elopiformes.
Percomorpha is a large clade of ray-finned fish with more than 17 000 known species that includes the tuna, seahorses, gobies, cichlids, flatfish, wrasse, perches, anglerfish, and pufferfish.
The Trachichthyiformes are an order of ray-finned fishes in the superorder Acanthopterygii.
Cheirothricidae is a family of extinct marine ray-finned fish, perhaps belonging to the Aulopiformes, although they are tentatively placed as indeterminate eurypterygians. They lived during the Upper Cretaceous and their fossil remains are found in the Middle East and Europe. They were characterized by very expanded even fins.