Deltoptychius

Deltoptychius Temporal range: Early Carboniferous–Late Carboniferous PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Holocephali
Order:	†Chimaeriformes
Family:	Deltoptychiidae
Genus:	Deltoptychius

Deltoptychius is an extinct species of cartaliginous fish related to the modern chimaeras. It lived in the Carboniferous period of present-day Europe.

Although it emerged over 300 million years ago, Deltoptychius was similar in appearance to modern-day chimaeras, possessing a long, whip-like tail and large, wing-like pectoral fins that it probably used to glide through the water. Deltoptychius`s large eyes allowed it to hunt in deep waters, crushing shellfish between solid tooth plates in its mouth.^[1]

References

1. Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 29. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.