Biology:Amakusaichthys

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Short description: Extinct genus of fishes

Amakusaichthys
Temporal range: Santonian
83.6 Ma
Amakusaichthys goshouraensis.jpg
Reconstruction
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Ichthyodectiformes
Family: Bardackichthyidae
Genus: Amakusaichthys
Yabumoto et al. 2018
Type species
Amakusaichthys goshouraensis
Yabumoto et al. 2018

Amakusaichthys is an extinct genus of ichthyodectiform fish which lived during the Late Cretaceous, known from only one species A. goshouraensis. Fossils are known from Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan .[1]

Discovery

Fossils were discovered in 2012 from construction site in Goshoura, Amakusa.[2] This site is later considered to belong to Hinoshima Formation of the Himenoura Group.[1] It was the first discovery of marine ichthyodectform fish described from Asia in detail, while other ichthyodectiform fish from Asia (three genera belong to Chuhsiungichthyidae) are from non-marine environment.[1][2]

Description

Amakusaichthys is relatively small ichthyodectiform fish with length around 60 cm (24 in). It is characterized by its long snout and small mouth and teeth.[1] Multiple specimens are found overlapped in one place, suggesting its schooling ecology.[2][3]

Classification

Amakusaichthys was not assigned to any family in original description. However, characters suggested that it was related to Heckelichthys.[1] In 2021, it was assigned to Bardackichthyidae, alongside Heckelichthys and Bardackichthys.[4]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q65236916 entry