Chirocentrites

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 (locality also sometimes given as Gorizia, Italy).^[1][2][3] 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.^[3][4]

Chirocentrites Temporal range: Late Cenomanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Possible Albian record
Life restoration of C. coroninii
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	†Ichthyodectiformes
Family:	†Cladocyclidae
Genus:	†Chirocentrites Heckel, 1849
Species:	†C. coroninii
Binomial name
†Chirocentrites coroninii Heckel, 1849

Another species sometimes classified in this genus, Spathodactylus (or Chirocentrites) neocomiensis Pictet, 1858 from the Hauterivian of France, appears to be morphologically distinct from Chirocentrites and needs taxonomic revision. Two other species (C. microdon Heckel, 1849 and C. gracilis Heckel, 1849) from the Cenomanian of Croatia and Slovenia are now placed in the genus Heckelichthys. The species "C." guinensis from the Aptian/Albian of Equatorial Guinea & Gabon likely belongs to another genus, possibly Cladocyclus.^[3]