Deltoptychius

Deltoptychius
Temporal range: Early Carboniferous–Late Carboniferous
Restorations of Menaspis and Deltoptychius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Holocephali
Order: Chimaeriformes
Family: †Deltoptychiidae
Genus: †Deltoptychius

Deltoptychius is an extinct species of cartilaginous fish related to the modern chimaeras. It lived in the Carboniferous period of present-day Europe.

Although it emerged over 300 million years ago, Deltoptychius was similar in appearance to modern-day chimaeras, possessing a long, whip-like tail and large, wing-like pectoral fins that it probably used to glide through the water. Deltoptychius`s large eyes allowed it to hunt in deep waters, crushing shellfish between solid tooth plates in its mouth.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 29. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.


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