Exellia

<i>Exellia</i>

Exellia

Extinct genus of fishes

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.

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Species ...

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

References

  1. [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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