Eosalmo

Eosalmo
Temporal range: Middle Eocene [1]
Eosalmo driftwoodensis, Klondike Mountain Formation, Washington, USA
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Subfamily: Salmoninae
Genus: †Eosalmo
Wilson, 1977
Species:
†E. driftwoodensis
Binomial name
†Eosalmo driftwoodensis
Wilson, 1977

Eosalmo is an extinct genus of ancient salmonid that lived during the Eocene epoch.[1]

The genus was first described in 1977 from fossils found in lacustrine deposits in Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park, near Smithers, British Columbia, Canada, leading to the specific epithet E. driftwoodensis.[2] Fossils from this genus have also been found at sites in Princeton, British Columbia, the McAbee Fossil Beds in B.C., and Republic, Washington, United States.[3]

When first described the genus was thought to be intermediate in form to the extant salmonid subfamilies Salmoninae (trout and salmon) and Thymallinae (graylings). More recent review of the genus has placed Eosalmo as the most primitive member of the Salmoninae subfamily.[3] Fossils found in Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park display a full range of individuals from young juveniles through adults. This range indicates that the genus was completely freshwater dwelling and did not spend time in saltwater.[4]

  1. ^ a b Sepkoski, J (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  2. ^ Wilson, MVH (1977). "Middle Eocene freshwater fishes from British Columbia". Life Sciences Contributions, Royal Ontario Museum. 113: 1–66.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, MVH; Li, Guo-Qing (1999). "Osteology and systematic position of the Eocene salmonid †Eosalmo driftwoodensis Wilson from western North America" (PDF). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 99 (125): 279–311. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1999.tb00594.x. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
  4. ^ "Burke Museum Eosalmo page". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-01-13.