Thoracopterus

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]

Thoracopterus niederristi Temporal range: Carnian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N [1]
Fossilised Thoracopterus Magnificus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	†Perleidiformes
Family:	†Thoracopteridae
Genus:	†Thoracopterus Bronn, 1858
Species:	†T. niederristi
Binomial name
†Thoracopterus niederristi Bronn, 1858

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.

Former species

• †Thoracopterus martinisi Tintori & Sassi, 1992 → †Italopterus martinisi (Tintori & Sassi, 1992)^[1]
• †Thoracopterus magnificus Tintori & Sassi, 1992 → †Italopterus magnificus (Tintori & Sassi, 1992)^[1]