Climatius
Climatius (from Greek: κλίμα klíma, 'gradation')[1] is an extinct genus of spiny shark. Fossils have been found in both Europe and North America. This genus is known from Early Devonian (Lochkovian to Emsian), previously considered Silurian remains actually belong to Nostolepis instead.[2]
| Climatius Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | †Acanthodii |
| Order: | †Climatiiformes |
| Suborder: | †Climatiida |
| Family: | †Climatiidae |
| Genus: | †Climatius Agassiz, 1845 |
| Type species | |
| Climatius reticulatus | |
| Species | |
| |
Climatius was an active swimmer, judging from its powerful caudal fin and abundant stabilizing fins, and probably preyed on other fish and crustaceans. Its lower jaw was lined with sharp teeth which were replaced when worn, but the upper jaw had no teeth. It had large eyes, suggesting that it hunted by sight.[3]
It was a small fish, at 7.5 centimetres (3 in), and to discourage predators, Climatius sported fifteen sharp spines. There was one spine each on the paired pelvic and pectoral fins, and on the aingle anal and two dorsal fins, and a four pairs without fins on the fish's underside.[3]
See also
References
- Parker, Steve. Dinosaurus: the complete guide to dinosaurs. Firefly Books Inc, 2003. Pg. 60
- Dean, Bashford (1895). Fishes, living and fossil. An outline of their forms and probable relationships. New York, London, Macmillan and Co. p. 227.
- Schnetz, Lisa; Butler, Richard J.; Coates, Michael I.; Sansom, Ivan J. (2022). Sansom, Robert (ed.). "Skeletal and soft tissue completeness of the acanthodian fossil record". Palaeontology. 65 (4). doi:10.1111/pala.12616. ISSN 0031-0239.
- Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 30. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.