Strongylosteus

Strongylosteus
Temporal range: Early Toarcian[1]
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Strongylosteus hindenburgi fossil, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: †Chondrosteiformes
Family: †Chondrosteidae
Genus: †Strongylosteus
Jaekel, 1931
Species:
†S. hindenburgi
Binomial name
†Strongylosteus hindenburgi
(Pompeckj, 1914)
Synonyms
  • †Chondrosteus hindenburgi Pompeckj, 1914

Strongylosteus is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish that lived during the early Toarcian age of the Early Jurassic epoch.[1][2] Its type species is Strongylosteus hindenburgi (monotypy). It is related to modern sturgeon and paddlefish (Acipenseroidei), but with a different kind of mouth than common species, made for hunting prey in open waters, with a strong lower jaw, similar to modern beluga sturgeon.

Strongylosteus is a large member of the family Chondrosteidae and the largest non-reptilian marine vertebrate in the Posidonia Shale, with a size between 3 metres (9.8 ft) and 4.5 metres (15 ft), and an estimated weight over 800 kg to 1 tonne.

Strongylosteus has been suggested as a junior synonym of Chondrosteus, although there haven't been any new revisions about the status of the genus.[3]

Strongylosteus hindenburgi fossil
Strongylosteus hindenburgi skull close-up
Strongylosteus hindenburgi fossil at Urwelt-Museum Hauff Holzmaden
Life restoration
  1. ^ a b Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  2. ^ Hennig, E. (1925). Chondrosteus Hindenburgi Pomp.---Ein «Stör» des württembergischen Ölschiefers (Lias\epsilon). Palaeontographica (1846-1933), 115–134.
  3. ^ Bemis, William E.; Findeis, Eric K.; Grande, Lance (1997). "An overview of Acipenseriformes". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 48 (1–4): 25–71. doi:10.1023/A:1007370213924. S2CID 24961905.