Palaeobalistum Explained

Palaeobalistum is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish which ranged from the Cretaceous to Eocene periods.^[1]

Etymology

The Latin genus name derives from a Greek word meaning "thick tooth".^[2]

Species

The following species have been described:^[3]

• Palaeobalistum dossantosi Maury, 1930
• Palaeobalistum flavellatum Cope, 1886
• Palaeobalistum geiseri Thurmond, 1974
• Palaeobalistum goedeli Heckel, 1856^[4]
• Palaeobalistum gutturosum Arambourg, 1954
• Palaeobalistum libanicum Kramberger, 1895
• Palaeobalistum orbiculatum Blainville, 1818
• Palaeobalistum ponsortii Heckel, 1854
• Palaeobalistum rectidens Thurmond, 1974
• Palaeobalistum zignoi Blot, 1987

Distribution

Fossils of Palaeobalistum have been found in:^[5]

Cretaceous

• Gramame Formation, Brazil
• Greenhorn Limestone, Colorado
• Antlers Formation, Oklahoma
• Glen Rose, Paluxy and Walnut Formations, Texas
• Haqel Limestone, Lebanon^[4]

Eocene

• Monte Bolca, Italy

See also

• Prehistoric fish
• List of prehistoric bony fish

Notes and References

1. http://strata.geology.wisc.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=543&rank=phylum Online Sepkoski Database
2. http://www.fossilmall.com/EDCOPE_Enterprises/fish/fishfossils74/fish-fossils-74.htm Fossilmall
3. http://gni.globalnames.org/data_sources/30?page=56&search_term=ns%3APAL* Global Name Index
4. Neal Robbins Paleobalistum goedeli
5. https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=35183 Palaeobalistum