| Thoracopterus niederristi Temporal range: [1] | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Fossilised Thoracopterus Magnificus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | † Perleidiformes |
| Family: | † Thoracopteridae |
| Genus: | † Thoracopterus Bronn, 1858 |
| Species: | †T. niederristi |
| Binomial name | |
| †Thoracopterus niederristi Bronn, 1858 | |
Thoracopterus is an extinct genus of overwater gliding ray-finned fish from the Carnian age of the Late Triassic. It is a monotypic taxon, with the type species being T. niederristi. [1]
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Thoracopterus had elongate pectoral fins, similar to modern Exocoetidae, which are used to glide overwater in order to escape aquatic predators. Thoracopterus represents one of the earliest known example for overwater gliding in actinopterygians.
