Saurorhynchus

Saurorhynchus is an extinct genus of carnivorous bony fish that lived during the Early and Middle Jurassic epochs.^[2] Fossils have been found in Europe (France, Belgium, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Germany,^[3] Italy) and North America (Canada^[4]). It is commonly found in pelagic and lagoonal deposits, but mostly marine. Largest specimens can grow up to 50 centimetres (1.6 ft).^[5][3]

Saurorhynchus Temporal range: Sinemurian-Aalenian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Saurorhynchus brevirostris fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	†Saurichthyiformes
Family:	†Saurichthyidae
Genus:	†Saurorhynchus Reis, 1892
Type species
†Saurorhynchus acutus (Agassiz, 1844)
Other species
†Saurorhynchus anningae †Saurorhynchus brevirostris †Saurorhynchus hauffi
Synonyms
Acidorhynchus Stensiö, 1925[1]

Life restoration

Four Jurassic species are recognized.^[3] In addition, the Late Triassic species Saurichthys striolatus, Saurichthys calcaratus, and Saurichthys deperditus are sometimes referred to Saurorhynchus, although Saurorhynchus is then treated as a subgenus of Saurichthys.^[6]

Saurorhynchus is the youngest representative of the family Saurichthyidae and the order Saurichthyiformes. This family is known for its large, elongate jaws, similar to modern Belonidae. Saurichthyidae also includes the Permian genus Eosaurichthys and the Triassic genus Saurichthys.

See also

• Paleontology portal
• Fish portal

• Prehistoric fish
• List of prehistoric bony fish