Sauritid flying fish

Saurichthys sp
Common name
Sauritid flying fish
Scientific name
Saurichthys sp
Type
Fossil
Other preserved Saurichthys specimens.
  • MVSP-00119
  • MVSP-00126
  • MVSP-00122

Description

The saurichthys (gen. Saurichthys) is a chondrostean fish that lived in the Triassic and Lower Jurassic (between 235 and 200 million years ago). Its remains have been found in many parts of the world (Europe, China, Madagascar, South Africa, Russia, Greenland, Spitzbergen, North America and Australia). With a long, tapered body, this fish is considered to be one of the most widespread predators of the Triassic seas.
The slender, elongated head, armed with conical teeth, was equipped with decidedly light dermal bones, such that the animal's weight was reduced. The entire body of the saurichthyte was structured in a particularly hydrodynamic manner: the anal and dorsal fins were set far back, close to the caudal fin, so as to take full advantage of the propulsive thrust of the tail. The internal organs were most likely placed in the anterior part of the body, while the posterior part was almost entirely occupied by powerful propulsive muscles.
Unlike many contemporary fishes, the saurichthyid lacked the thick coating of ganoid scales, which were reduced to four longitudinal rows along the back.

Scientific Classification

Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actynopterygii
Order
Saurichthyiformes
Family
Saurichthidae
Genus
Saurichthys
Species
sp
Scientific name
Saurichthys sp

Preserved specimen

The specimen includes only the cephalic portion and part of the masticatory apparatus. The two parts cannot be connected, as a third part was never found by those who collected it at the time.

Cataloging

SIRBeC
7s060-00118

Continue exploring

In the Paleontology Collection.

  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00073
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00075
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00083
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00081
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00079
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00077
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00204
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00069
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00070
  • Paleontology
  • MVSP-00011

Continue exploring

Discover more Collections

Association “Storia Natura e Vita”
Piazza Camozzi, 2
22010 Grandola ed Uniti (CO) –
Italy

VAT ID: IT 03290790132
Tax ID: 93007310134

[email protected]

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