Biology:Anomoeodus
| Anomoeodus Temporal range: Albian to Maastrichtian
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| Kingdom: | Animalia
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| Genus: | Anomoeodus
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| Species: | A. splendidus
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| Binomial name | |
| Anomoeodus splendidus Nessov 1985
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Anomoeodus is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pycnodontidae. This genus lived during the Late Cretaceous period, ranging from the Albian to Maastrichtian ages, and had a wide geographic distribution, with fossils found in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and the United States. The first fossils of Anomoeodus were described by Louis Agassiz in 1835.
Description
Anomoeodus was one of the largest genera of Pycnodontiformes, with some species reaching up to 1 meter (3.3 ft) in length. It had a deep and laterally compressed body, with a relatively small head and a large dorsal fin. Like many members of its family, Anomoeodus had strong jaws and teeth adapted for crushing hard prey, making it mainly durophagous. Its diet is believed to have consisted primarily of crustaceans and mollusks.
Anomoeodus had a distinctive morphology that allowed it to be easily identified. The genus had an elongated dorsal fin, which was positioned far back on its body, and a long anal fin. Its pectoral fins were relatively small, while the pelvic fins were positioned far back on the body. The scales of Anomoeodus were large and thick, with a distinctive concentric growth pattern.
Species
There are currently 16 recognized species of Anomoeodus, with several of these being further divided into subspecies. Some of the most notable species include:
Anomoeodus becklesii
Anomoeodus clementis
Anomoeodus cuvieri
Anomoeodus disjunctus
Anomoeodus eutypus
Anomoeodus hermanvanparijsi
Anomoeodus jurensis
Anomoeodus latipinnis
Anomoeodus pharaoensis
Anomoeodus phaseolus
Anomoeodus pricei
Anomoeodus robustus
Anomoeodus sphaerodus
Anomoeodus stantoni
Anomoeodus subclavatus
Anomoeodus ultimus
Fossil Record
Fossils of Anomoeodus have been found in marine deposits from the Late Cretaceous period. In North America, they have been found in the Niobrara Formation in Wyoming and South Dakota, and the Eagle Ford Formation in Texas. In Europe, Anomoeodus fossils have been found in the Upper Cretaceous strata of Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Uzbekistan. In Africa, fossils have been found in Egypt.
Paleoecology
Anomoeodus lived in a variety of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to deeper offshore environments. It is believed to have been a relatively common component of Cretaceous marine faunas. Some species, such as Anomoeodus ultimus, are believed to have been able to tolerate brackish water environments, while others, such as Anomoeodus jurensis, are only known from offshore marine deposits.
In addition to its role as a predator of crustaceans and mollusks, Anomoeodus likely served as a prey item for larger marine predators, such as mosasaurs and sharks. The thick scales and heavily armored head of Anomoeodus likely provided some protection from predation, although it is unknown how effective this defense mechanism was in practice.
See also
- Prehistoric fish
- List of prehistoric bony fish
References
Wikidata ☰ Q4769978 entry
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