Aethalionopsis Explained

Aethalionopsis is an extinct genus of prehistoric freshwater bony fish from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian to early Aptian, with possible earlier or later occurrences) of western Europe.^[1] Formerly classified as a species of the elopiform Anaethalion, it is now known to be a relative of the modern milkfish (Chanos) in order Gonorhynchiformes. It was previously placed as a basal member of the suborder Chanoidei, but is now more often placed as a basal member of the subfamily Chaninae of the family Chanidae, placing it closer to the extant Chanos.^{[2] [3]}

Only a single species is presently accepted, A. robustus from the famous Iguanodon dinosaur locality of the Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation in Bernissart, Belgium. However, potential localities are also known from the Berriasian-Hauterivian of Sussex, England (classified in the genus Anaethalion as A. valdensis), and the Aptian-Albian of southern Italy (possibly an undescribed species). However, more recent studies have only accepted and commented on A. robustus, with no mention of these other occurrences.^[4]

See also

• Prehistoric fish
• List of prehistoric bony fish

Notes and References

1. Web site: PBDB . 2024-02-06 . paleobiodb.org.
2. Amaral . Cesar R. L. . Brito . Paulo M. . 2012-05-21 . A New Chanidae (Ostariophysii: Gonorynchiformes) from the Cretaceous of Brazil with Affinities to Laurasian Gonorynchiforms from Spain . PLOS ONE . en . 7 . 5 . e37247 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0037247 . free . 1932-6203 . 3357423 . 22629376. 2012PLoSO...737247A .
3. Ribeiro . Alexandre C. . Poyato-Ariza . Francisco J. . Bockmann . Flávio A. . Carvalho . Marcelo R. de . 2018-10-18 . Phylogenetic relationships of Chanidae (Teleostei: Gonorynchiformes) as impacted by Dastilbe moraesi, from the Sanfranciscana basin, Early Cretaceous of Brazil . Neotropical Ichthyology . en . 16 . 3 . e180059 . 10.1590/1982-0224-20180059 . 1679-6225. 10486/686712 . free .
4. Taverne . Louis . 1981 . Ostéologie et position systématique d'Aethalionopsis robustus (Pisces, Teleostei) du Crétacé inférieur de Bernissart (Belgique) considérations sur les affinités des Gonorhynchiformes . Bulletins de l'Académie Royale de Belgique . 67 . 1 . 958–982 . 10.3406/barb.1981.57174.