Flindersichthys
Extinct genus of fishes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flindersichthys is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish that lived during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous epoch.[1][2][3] It contains a single species, F. denmeadi, known from the Allaru and Toolebuc Formations of Queensland, Australia. It was a relative of modern ladyfish and tarpons.[4]
| Flindersichthys Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Elopiformes |
| Genus: | †Flindersichthys Longman, 1932 |
| Species: | †F. denmeadi |
| Binomial name | |
| †Flindersichthys denmeadi Longman, 1932 | |
Description
Flindersichthys was a large fish growing over 1.25 meters long and with an estimated body depth of over 30 centimeters. The holotype specimen, QMF2210, is a nearly complete skull found near the Flinders River, one mile east of Richmond, Queensland, in the sediments of the Toolebuc Formation.[4] Several other specimens are also known, mostly from the Toolebuc Formation, though some are from the Allaru and Normanton formations.[4] It is assigned to the Elopiformes order, but while it shares some features with megalopids it is considered incertae sedis below this level.[4] Judging from its dentition and the fact that the specimen QMF13720 has small, isolated vertebrae of a teleost fish in the mouth, Flindersichthys is believed to be a predator of smaller fish.[4] It also had a large jaw with an underbite, possibly allowing it to swallow small prey whole.[5]
