Archaephippus
Extinct genus of fishes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Archaephippus ("ancient Ephippus") is an extinct genus of prehistoric spadefish that lived from the early Eocene.[1] It contains a single species, A. asper, known from Italy.[2] Several exquisitely preserved fossils have been found from the Monte Bolca lagerstatten.[3] Some juvenile specimens preserve the vertical striped coloration that they would have likely had in life.[4]
| Archaephippus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Specimen of A. asper | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Ephippidae |
| Genus: | †Archaephippus Blot, 1969 |
| Species: | †A. asper |
| Binomial name | |
| †Archaephippus asper (Volta, 1796) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
It was originally described as Chaetodon asper Volta, 1796, which was given the new name Ephippus oblongus by Agassiz (1835).[5] When it was placed in its own genus, the original specific epithet was revived.
