Palaeocarassius

Palaeocarassius is an extinct genus of Miocene-aged cyprinid fish closely related to the crucian carps of Carassius. Most fossils are of otoliths, teeth, fin spines, and scales found in Miocene-aged lacustrine strata throughout Europe, though, two species, P. basalticus^[1] and P. priscus (syn. Cyprinus priscus), are also known from whole body fossils, representing stout-bodied, large-headed animals that bear strong resemblances to the living crucian carps. The holotype of the type species, P. mydlovariensis, is a disarticulated head.^[1]

Palaeocarassius Temporal range: Turolian[1]
fossil specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Subfamily:	Cyprininae
Genus:	†Palaeocarassius Obrhelová, 1970

Species

• Palaeocarassius mydlovariensis Obrhelová, 1970 (type species)
• Palaeocarassius basalticus Gaudant, 1997 (French species)
• Palaeocarassius obesus
• Palaeocarassius priscus (H. von Meyer, 1852) (syn. Cyprinus priscus)