Njoerdichthys
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| Njoerdichthys Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | †Pycnodontiformes |
| Family: | †Pycnodontidae |
| Genus: | †Njoerdichthys Cawley et al., 2020 |
| Species: | †N. dyckerhoffi |
| Binomial name | |
| †Njoerdichthys dyckerhoffi Cawley et al., 2020 | |
Njoerdichthys is an extinct genus of pycnodontid fish from the Cretaceous Hesseltal Formation in Germany.[1]
The original holotype of Njoerdichthys was discovered in 1995 at the abandoned Galgenknapp quarry, previously owned by the Dyckerhoff AG company, while the paratype specimens were discovered in the Hohne quarry, also owned by the company, located west of Lengerich, Germany. The specimens were found in laminated marlstones. Both quarries are part of the Late Cretaceous Hesseltal Formation. All of the specimens where collected and then prepared by Udo Resch, who is famous for his fossil preparating skills.[1]
The name of Njoerdichthys refers to the ancient Germanic god Njörd, who, in German mythology, navegates the waters and winds, plus the Greek name "ichthyos", meaning fish. The name of the species, N. dyckerhoffi, refers to the Dyckerhoff AG company.[1]