Exellia

Exellia is a genus of extinct spadefish that lived in the Tethys Ocean during the early Paleogene. The adult form is shaped akin to a large spadefish or a short dolphinfish, with very large pelvic fins, and a long dorsal fin starting from in front of the eyes to near the base of the caudal peduncle. The juvenile form resembles a juvenile drumfish, with the dorsal fin forming a long crest on top of the head.

Exellia
Temporal range: Thanetian to Lutetian
Exellia velifer
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: †Exelliidae
Genus: †Exellia
Species
  • E. velifer
  • E. proxima

The earlier species, E. proxima, is known from the Danata Formation Lagerstätten from the Late Paleocene of Turkmenistan. The latter-occurring species, E. velifer, is the better studied species, and is known from numerous adult and juvenile specimens from the Middle Eocene Monte Bolca Lagerstätten.

Most researchers regard Exellia as a spadefish, though, some remove this genus, and the related Eoluvarus[1] to a separate family, "Exelliidae."

References
  1. Bannikov, Alexandre F.; Tyler, James C. (1995). "Phylogenetic Revision of the Fish Families Luvaridae and Kushlukiidae (Acanthuroidei), with a New Genus and Two New Species of Eocene Luvarids". Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology (81): 1–45. doi:10.5479/si.00810266.81.1.


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