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Flindersichthys
Extinct genus of fishes From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Flindersichthys is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish that lived during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous epoch.[1][2][3] It contains a single species, F. denmeadi, known from the Allaru and Toolebuc Formations of Queensland, Australia. It was a relative of modern ladyfish and tarpons.[4]
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Description
Flindersichthys was a large fish growing over 1.25 meters long and with an estimated body depth of over 30 centimeters. The holotype specimen, QMF2210, is a nearly complete skull found near the Flinders River, one mile east of Richmond, Queensland, in the sediments of the Toolebuc Formation.[4] Several other specimens are also known, mostly from the Toolebuc Formation, though some are from the Allaru and Normanton formations.[4] It is assigned to the Elopiformes order, but while it shares some features with megalopids it is considered incertae sedis below this level.[4] Judging from its dentition and the fact that the specimen QMF13720 has small, isolated vertebrae of a teleost fish in the mouth, Flindersichthys is believed to be a predator of smaller fish.[4] It also had a large jaw with an underbite, possibly allowing it to swallow small prey whole.[5]
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References
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