Pycnodus

Pycnodus is an extinct genus of pycnodont that lived during the Eocene.[1] The only species is P. apodus, meaning it is a monotypic genus. It is also the type genus of the Pycnodontiformes.

Description

Physical appearance

According to the fossils, Pycnodus could've been 30.6 cm (10 in) long.[2] It looked like a righteye flounder, but it was not related to them. It had a hump on its back, behind which the dorsal fin began. Like most genera, it had large rounded teeth to crush mollusks.

Where it is from

It is only known from the Monte Bolca lagerstätte.

Habitat

Species once included in the genus are found in what is now India, North Africa, Belgium, England, regions corresponding with the Tethys Ocean.[3]

  • Another fossil
  • Pycnodus rhombus

References

  1. ↑ "Sylvienodus, a new replacement genus for the Cretaceous pycnodontiform fish "Pycnodus" laveirensis, Comptes Rendus Palevol".
  2. ↑ "A quantitative approach to determine the taxonomic identity and ontogeny of the pycnodontiform fish Pycnodus (Neopterygii, Actinopterygii) from the Eocene of Bolca Lagerstätte, Italy, PeerJ".
  3. ↑ "Pycnodus lametae (Pycnodontidae), a Holostean Fish from Freshwater Upper Cretaceous Lameta Formation of Maharashtra, Geological Society of India".

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