Ctenognathichthys Temporal range:
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Fossil from Monte San Giorgio | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | ?†Perleidiformes/
?†Louwoichthyiformes |
Genus: | †Ctenognathichthys Bürgin, 1992
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Type species | |
†Heterolepidotus bellottii de Alessandri, 1910
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Ctenognathichthys is an extinct genus of prehistoric bony fish that lived during the Anisian and Ladinian ages of the Middle Triassic epoch in what is now southern/southeastern Switzerland and northern Italy.[1]
It was a small fish measuring 21 cm (8.3 in) in total length.[2] It had long long prehensile teeth in its upper and lower jaws.[3]
Fossils of Ctenognathichthys were recovered from the Anisian–Ladinian aged Besano Formation of Monte San Giorgio area (Swiss-Italian borderland)[3] and from the early Ladinian Prosanto Formation of canton Graubünden, Switzerland.[4] The type species is Ctenognathichthys bellottii, which was found in both collecting sites. A possible second species, Ctenognathichthys hattichi,[4] is only known from the Prosanto Formation. This species was referred to the genus Luopingichthys.[5]
Ctenognathichthys was first classified as a member of the family Perleididae and order Perleidiformes.[3] More recently, it was included in the family Louwoichthyidae (order Louwoichthyiformes).[6]