Sivulliusalmo

Sivulliusalmo Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, Campanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Salmoniformes
Family:	Salmonidae
Genus:	† Sivulliusalmo Murray, Brinkman, et al., 2025
Type species
Sivulliusalmo alaskensis Murray, Brinkman, et al., 2025

Sivulliusalmo is an extinct genus of salmonid fish from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of North America. It contains a single species, Sivulliusalmo alaskensis. Described in 2025, it is recognized as the oldest and most basal member of the salmonid family.

Taxonomy and discovery

The genus is known from fossils recovered from the Campanian-age deposits of the Prince Creek formation in Alaska. The description of the genus and species by Murray, Brinkman, and colleagues in 2025 established its position as the stem-most salmonid. ^[1]

Significance

Sivulliusalmo provides crucial insight into the early evolution of salmonids. Its anatomical features help to clarify the group's initial diversification and its presence in Campanian deposits of Alaska pushes back the confirmed fossil record of the family Salmonidae. ^[1]

References

1. Murray, Alison M.; Brinkman, Donald B.; Newbrey, Michael G.; Neuman, Andrew G.; Hills, L. V. (2025). "The oldest salmonid (Teleostei: Salmonidae): a new genus and species from the Late Cretaceous of North America, with a discussion of the early fossil record of the group". Papers in Palaeontology. doi:10.1002/spp2.70014.