Iniopteryx
| Iniopteryx Temporal range: Pennsylvanian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Iniopteryx rushlaui | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum: | Gnathostomata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Holocephali |
| Order: | Iniopterygiformes |
| Family: | Iniopterygidae |
| Genus: | Iniopteryx |
Iniopteryx ("Nape Wing") is an extinct genus of cartilaginous fish. It is from the Pennsylvanian epoch of the Carboniferous period, approximately 300 million years ago. Their fossils have been found in North America, primarily in two states: Ohio and Montana. In general, very little is known about this species.
Characteristics
Iniopteryx was a plump, small-sized chimaera-like fish. It is known that the species average size was around half a meter long in length. While the species had specialized spines and fins superficially similar to that of a flying fish, there is much speculation about whether it could glide like a flying fish, or was actually benthic.
Sources
- Vertebrate Palaeontology by Michael J. Benton
https://archive.org/stream/iniopterygianewo06zang/iniopterygianewo06zang_djvu.txt
- The Search For ANCIENT SHARKS Discovery Communications Inc.
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/prehistoricsharks/gallery7.html
- Hallazgo Del Fósil De Un Cerebro (Original Article is written in Spanish)
http://www.amenito.com/hallazgo-del-fosil-de-un-cerebro