Aspidorhynchiformes Temporal range: Middle Jurassic - Late Cretaceous |
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Aspidorhynchus acustirostris | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
Infraphylum: | Gnathostomata |
Superclass: | Osteichthyes |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Subclass: | Neopterygii |
Order: |
Aspidorhynchiformes Bleeker, 1859 |
Aspidorhynchiformes (meaning "shield snout form") is an extinct order of prehistoric ray-finned fish that was described by Bleeker in 1859.
Aspidorhynchiformes has one family, which is divided into at least two genera:
Fossils range have been found in the United States, France, Italy, Russia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Uzbekistan. These fossils range from 167.7mya (Aspidorhynchus) to 66 mya (Belonostomus longirostris).
Vinctifer is presumably closely related, but has several differences from the other two; though it is likely a member of the Aspidorhynchiformes, it might be treated as distinct from the Aspidorhynchidae.