Stromerichthys

Last updated

Stromerichthys
Temporal range: Cenomanian [1]
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Superclass: Osteichthyes
Genus: Stromerichthys
Weiler, 1935
Species:
S. aethiopicus
Binomial name
Stromerichthys aethiopicus
Weiler, 1935

Stromerichthys ("Stromer's fish") is an extinct genus of potentially chimaeric freshwater bony fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous epoch. It contains a single species, S. aethiopicus, described from a now-lost specimen with bones & scales from Egypt. [1] [2]

It was initially described as an amiiform related to the modern bowfin from scales and skeletal remains recovered in the Cenomanian-aged Bahariya Formation of Egypt; this type specimen was later destroyed during the bombing of the Palaeontological Museum, Munich in World War II. Later, isolated scales assigned to Stromerichthys were recovered from the earlier Cenomanian of southern Europe (Portugal, France & Spain), and the Albian of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [3] [4]

In 2015, Cavin et al found Stromerichthys to most likely be a chimera (a fossil taxon erected on a mixture of different taxa), with the skeletal remains of the type specimen likely belonging to the giant bichir Bawitius & a mawsoniid coelacanth, while the scales found with the type specimen and throughout Europe & Africa belonged to the extinct gar relative Obaichthys . The destruction of the type specimen means that Bawitius or Obaichthys cannot be considered junior synonyms of Stromerichthys, and it is thus likely an invalid genus. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Protosphyraena</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Protosphyraena is a fossil genus of swordfish-like marine fish, that thrived worldwide during the Cretaceous period (Albian-Maastrichtian). Fossil remains of this taxon are mainly discovered in North America and Europe, and potential specimens are also known from Asia, Africa and Australia. Its fossils are best known from the Smoky Hill Member of the Niobrara Chalk Formation of Kansas.

<i>Axelrodichthys</i> Extinct genus of coelacanths

Axelrodichthys is an extinct genus of mawsoniid coelacanth from the Cretaceous of Africa, North and South America, and Europe. Several species are known, the remains of which were discovered in the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian-Albian) of Brazil, North Africa, and possibly Mexico, as well as in the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco (Cenomanian), Madagascar and France. The Axelrodichthys of the Lower Cretaceous frequented both brackish and coastal marine waters while the most recent species lived exclusively in fresh waters. The French specimens are the last known fresh water coelacanths. Most of the species of this genus reached 1 metre to 2 metres in length. Axelrodichthys was named in 1986 by John G. Maisey in honor of the American ichthyologist Herbert R. Axelrod.

<i>Mawsonia</i> (fish) Extinct genus of coelacanths

Mawsonia is an extinct genus of prehistoric coelacanth fish. It is amongst the largest of all coelacanths, with one quadrate specimen possibly belonging to an individual measuring 5.3 metres in length. It lived in freshwater and brackish environments from the late Jurassic to the mid-Cretaceous of South America, eastern North America, and Africa. Mawsonia was first described by British paleontologist Arthur Smith Woodward in 1907.

Cladocyclus is an extinct genus of marine ichthyodectiform ray-finned fish from the middle Cretaceous. It was a predator of about 1.20 metres (3.9 ft) in length.

<i>Chirocentrites</i> Extinct genus of ray-finned fishes

Chirocentrites is an extinct genus of marine ray-finned fish in the order Ichthyodectiformes. It contains a single species, C. coroninii, from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Slovenia. A potential specimen is also known from the Albian-aged Pietraroja Plattenkalk of southern Italy, but it has been suggested that this specimen actually represents Cladocyclus.

<i>Coccodus</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Coccodus is an extinct genus of marine pycnodontid fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous. The various species had a pair of massive, curved spines emanating from the lower sides of the head, and one curved spine on the top of its head. Unlike most pycnodontids, Coccodus species had a comparatively long body, giving the living animals a superficial resemblance to a scaly chimaera.

Telepholis is an extinct genus of prehistoric bony fish that lived from the Cenomanian to Campanian.

Cryptoberyx is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish that lived during the late Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Two species are known from southern Europe and the Middle East, both part of the former Tethys Sea.

<i>Paranogmius</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Paranogmius is an extinct genus of prehistoric bony fish that lived during the Cenomanian. It is known from only 2 partial skulls and several dorsal vertebrae discovered in the Bahariya Formation that was destroyed during World War II. Since then, no more fossils have been discovered. It may have been up to 3 meters long.

Barcarenichthys is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous. It contains a single species, B. joneti, from the late Cenomanian of Portugal.

<i>Anomoeodus</i> Extinct genus of fishes

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.

<i>Ctenothrissa</i> Extinct genus of fishes

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.

<i>Coelodus</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Coelodus is an extinct genus of marine and possibly freshwater pycnodont fish. It contains only one definitive species, C. saturnusHeckel, 1854, from the Late Cretaceous of Slovenia. Other species from the Late Jurassic to the Eocene have also been attributed to this genus based on isolated dental elements, but their assignment to Coelodus is uncertain, and this genus likely represents a non-monophyletic wastebasket taxon. A potential diagnostic trait is a prearticular tooth row with three regular highly elongated teeth.

<i>Cylindracanthus</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Cylindracanthus is an extinct, enigmatic genus of marine ray-finned fish with fossils known throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Africa from the Late Cretaceous to the late Eocene, with potential Oligocene records and a possible Miocene record also known. It is exclusively known from its distinctive partial remains, which are long cylindrical bony spines that are usually considered rostrum fragments, as well as some associated teeth. These spines are abundant & widespread throughout this timespan, and are useful indicators of a nearshore marine environment, but the taxonomic identity of the fish is still highly uncertain and debated.

Psilichthys is an extinct genus of prehistoric bony fish from Eumeralla Formation, the Lower Cretaceous epoch of what is now Victoria, Australia, known from single species P. selwyni. This is the first Mesozoic fossil vertebrate named from Victoria.

<i>Goulmimichthys</i> Extinct genus of ray-finned fishes

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obaichthyidae</span> Extinct family of ray-finned fishes

Obaichthyidae is an extinct family of ginglymodian ray-finned fish that lived in what is now Africa, South America, and southern Europe during the Cretaceous period. They were close relatives of the modern gars of the family Lepisosteidae, with the two groups making up the superfamily Lepisosteoidea.

Oniichthys is an extinct genus of gar in the family Lepisosteidae. It contains a single species, O. falipoui, known from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Morocco.

Afrocascudo is a controversial genus of extinct neopterygian fish, either an ancient loricariid catfish or a juvenile obaichthyid lepisosteiform of the genus Obaichthys. It is known from the Late Cretaceous Douira Formation of Morocco. The genus contains a single species, A. saharaensis, known from a partial articulated specimen.

<i>Obaichthys</i> Extinct genus of fishes

Obaichthys is an extinct genus of lepisosteiform fish that inhabited South America, Africa, and southern Europe during the mid-Cretaceous period. It closely resembled modern gars, which it was related to, but differed in its spiny scales and restricted mouth gape. The genus name references the Yoruba spirit Ọba, who is worshiped in the Candomblé religion in Brazil.

References

  1. 1 2 Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. ISBN   0877104506.
  2. "PBDB Taxon". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  3. Pimentel, Ricardo; Barroso-Barcenilla, Fernando; Berrocal-Casero, Mélani; Callapez, Pedro Miguel; Ozkaya de Juanas, Senay; dos Santos, Vanda F. (2023). "On the Occurrence of the Gar Obaichthys africanus Grande in the Cretaceous of Portugal: Palaeoecological and Palaeobiogeographical Implications". Geosciences. 13 (12): 372. doi: 10.3390/geosciences13120372 . ISSN   2076-3263.
  4. 1 2 Cavin, Lionel; Boudad, Larbi; Tong, Haiyan; Läng, Emilie; Tabouelle, Jérôme; Vullo, Romain (2015-05-27). "Taxonomic Composition and Trophic Structure of the Continental Bony Fish Assemblage from the Early Late Cretaceous of Southeastern Morocco". PLoS One. 10 (5): e0125786. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125786 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   4446216 . PMID   26018561.