In Depth Though only small, Echinochimaera is still a very interesting fish that is known to have swum in the waters of what is now Montana during the Carboniferous. Echinochimaera had a deep round body that was propelled by a relatively thin tail which ended in a small caudal fin. This indicates that Echinochimaera was … Read more
In Depth A cartilaginous fish and therefore relative of sharks and rays, Deltoptychius is often seen as an early rat tail. For a modern analogy, Deltoptychius would be a more primitive version of a modern Chimaera monstrosa. These kinds of fish are usually deep water species that swim around in virtual darkness as very little … Read more
In Depth Nine times out of ten Ischyodus in simply referred to as a prehistoric Chimaera. In this instance it is meant as being similar to Chimaera monstrosa, also known as the rat fish and the rabbit fish, due to its physical similarity. Both Ischyodus and Chimaera monstrosa are members of the Chondrichthyes, which means … Read more
In Depth Fadenia is a genus of cartilaginous fish that belongs within the Eugeneodontida, a group that contains very bizarre forms such as Edestus, Helicoprion and Sarcoprion. Although popularly dubbed sharks, the eugeneodonts are usually placed within the Holocephali, a group distinct from sharks (that are classed within the Elasmobranchii) that also includes the cartilaginous … Read more
In Depth Delphyodontos is a genus of fish that lived in North America during the Carboniferous. Most of the specimens of Delphyodontos are either of new born juveniles or actual aborted foetuses. New born Delphyodontos roughly resemble tadpoles with teeth shaped into beaks, but what is interesting about this genus is that while the young … Read more