Frigocanthus
Genus of fishes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frigocanthus is a genus of extinct tetraodontiform marine fishes.
| Frigocanthus Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fossil of Frigocanthus margaritatus | |
 | |
| Fossil of Frigocanthus stroppanobili | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Monacanthidae |
| Genus: | †Frigocanthus Sorbini & Tyler, 2004 |
Species
- Frigocanthus margaritatus
- Frigocanthus stroppanobili
Fossil record
Fossils of Frigocanthus are found in the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Italy and in the Pliocene of Greece.[1]
Description
The filefishes of the genus Frigocanthus have 21 vertebrae and show a remarkable enlargement of scales. Furthermore, they have a strong first dorsal spine with large, prominent barbs. The species Frigocanthus margaritatus can reach a length of about 310 millimetres (12 in).[1]
Bibliography
- Sorbini, C. & Tyler, J.C. (2004) Review of the fossil file fishes of the family Monacanthidae (Tetraodontiformes), Pliocene and Pleistocene of Europe, with a new genus, Frigocanthus, and two new species related to the Recent Aluterus. Bollettino del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Verona, 28, 41–76. Geologia Paleontologia Preistoria
