Eothynnus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eothynnus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restoration of Eothynnus salmoneus as a carangid | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Suborder: | Carangoidei |
| Family: | Carangidae |
| Genus: | †Eothynnus Woodward, 1901 |
| Species: | †E. salmoneus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Eothynnus salmoneus Woodward, 1901 | |
Eothynnus is an extinct species of prehistoric jackfish that lived during the lower Eocene of Europe and eastern North America. It contains a single species, E. salmoneus.[1][2] It is known primarily from some preserved skulls from what is now the Isle of Sheppey (as a part of the London Clay Lagerstatten) in England.[3] A single vertebra is also known from the Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia, US.[4]
It was originally thought to be a tuna or mackerel, hence the generic name translating as "dawn" or "Eocene tuna."[2] Later, it was reappraised to be a jackfish, related to Teratichthys and Eastmanalepes (syn. "Caranx primaevus").[5][6] It is one of the largest fish known from the London Clay.[4]
