Aethalionopsis

Aethalionopsis
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous
Aethalionopsis robustus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gonorynchiformes
Family: Chanidae
Subfamily: Chaninae
Genus: †Aethalionopsis
Gaudant, 1966
Species:
†A. robustus
Binomial name
†Aethalionopsis robustus
(Traquair, 1911)

Aethalionopsis is an extinct genus of prehistoric freshwater bony fish from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian to early Aptian, with possible earlier or later occurrences) of western Europe.[1] Formerly classified as a species of the elopiform Anaethalion, it is now known to be a relative of the modern milkfish (Chanos) in order Gonorhynchiformes. It was previously placed as a basal member of the suborder Chanoidei, but is now more often placed as a basal member of the subfamily Chaninae of the family Chanidae, placing it closer to the extant Chanos.[2][3][4][5]

Only a single species is presently accepted, A. robustus from the famous Iguanodon dinosaur locality of the Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation in Bernissart, Belgium. However, potential localities are also known from the Berriasian-Hauterivian of Sussex, England (classified in the genus Anaethalion as A. valdensis), and the Aptian-Albian of southern Italy (possibly an undescribed species). However, more recent studies have only accepted and commented on A. robustus, with no mention of these other occurrences.[2][6]

  1. ^ "PBDB". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  2. ^ a b Fara, Emmanuel; Gayet, Mireille; Taverne, Louis (2010-01-01), "The Fossil Record of Gonorynchiformes" (PDF), Gonorynchiformes and Ostariophysan Relationships, CRC Press, pp. 173–226, doi:10.1201/b10194-6, ISBN 978-0-429-06156-1, retrieved 2024-02-06
  3. ^ Poyato-Ariza, Francisco José; Grande, Terry; Diogo, Rui (2010), "Gonorynchiform Interrelationships: Historic Overview, Analysis, and Revised Systematics of the Group" (PDF), Gonorynchiformes and Ostariophysan Relationships, CRC Press, pp. 227–337, doi:10.1201/b10194-7, ISBN 978-0-429-06156-1, retrieved 2024-02-06
  4. ^ Amaral, Cesar R. L.; Brito, Paulo M. (2012-05-21). "A New Chanidae (Ostariophysii: Gonorynchiformes) from the Cretaceous of Brazil with Affinities to Laurasian Gonorynchiforms from Spain". PLOS ONE. 7 (5): e37247. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...737247A. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0037247. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3357423. PMID 22629376.
  5. ^ Ribeiro, Alexandre C.; Poyato-Ariza, Francisco J.; Bockmann, Flávio A.; Carvalho, Marcelo R. de (2018-10-18). "Phylogenetic relationships of Chanidae (Teleostei: Gonorynchiformes) as impacted by Dastilbe moraesi, from the Sanfranciscana basin, Early Cretaceous of Brazil". Neotropical Ichthyology. 16 (3): e180059. doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20180059. hdl:10486/686712. ISSN 1679-6225.
  6. ^ Taverne, Louis (1981). "Ostéologie et position systématique d'Aethalionopsis robustus (Pisces, Teleostei) du Crétacé inférieur de Bernissart (Belgique) considérations sur les affinités des Gonorhynchiformes". Bulletins de l'Académie Royale de Belgique. 67 (1): 958–982. doi:10.3406/barb.1981.57174.