Martinichthys Temporal range:
Coniacian,
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Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | † Tselfatiiformes |
Family: | † Plethodidae |
Genus: | †
Martinichthys McClung, 1926 |
Species | |
|
Martinichthys is an extinct genus of plethodid fish from the Cretaceous of North America. [1] [2] It is known from the Niobrara Chalk, in which it is exceedingly rare. [3] It is named after one H. T. Martin, who collected the most complete specimen at the time of description. [2]
Two species are known, the short-snouted M. brevis and the long-snouted M. ziphioides; multiple other species previously described have been synonymized with M. ziphioides. [4] With its long rostrum, the genus shows notable morphological convergence with modern billfish and the co-occurring pachycormid fish Protosphyraena, although not to the extent of its close relative, Rhamphoichthys. [5]
Martinichthys Temporal range:
Coniacian,
| |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | † Tselfatiiformes |
Family: | † Plethodidae |
Genus: | †
Martinichthys McClung, 1926 |
Species | |
|
Martinichthys is an extinct genus of plethodid fish from the Cretaceous of North America. [1] [2] It is known from the Niobrara Chalk, in which it is exceedingly rare. [3] It is named after one H. T. Martin, who collected the most complete specimen at the time of description. [2]
Two species are known, the short-snouted M. brevis and the long-snouted M. ziphioides; multiple other species previously described have been synonymized with M. ziphioides. [4] With its long rostrum, the genus shows notable morphological convergence with modern billfish and the co-occurring pachycormid fish Protosphyraena, although not to the extent of its close relative, Rhamphoichthys. [5]