Amphistium

Amphistium; Temporal range: Middle Eocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Carangiformes
Family:	†Amphistiidae
Genus:	†Amphistium; Agassiz, 1835
Species:	†A. paradoxum
Binomial name
	†Amphistium paradoxum; Agassiz, 1835

Amphistium paradoxum (from Greek: ἀμφί amphi, 'on both sides', Greek: ιστίον istion 'sail', and Greek: παράδοξος paradoxus 'extraordinary'),^[1] the only species classified under the genus Amphistium, is a fossil fish which has been identified as a Paleogene relative of the flatfish, and as a transitional fossil.^[2] In a typical modern flatfish, the head is asymmetric with both eyes on one side of the head. In Amphistium, the transition from the typical symmetric head of a vertebrate is incomplete, with one eye placed near the top of the head.^[3]

Amphistium is among the many fossil fish species known from the Monte Bolca Lagerstätte of Lutetian Italy. Heteronectes is a related, and very similar fossil from a slightly earlier strata of France.

References

^ Roberts, George (1839). An etymological and explanatory dictionary of the terms and language of geology. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longmans. p. 7, 145. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
^ "Odd Fish Find Contradicts Intelligent-Design Argument". National Geographic. July 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
^ Matt Friedman (2008-07-10). "The evolutionary origin of flatfish asymmetry". Nature. 454 (7201): 209–212. Bibcode:2008Natur.454..209F. doi:10.1038/nature07108. PMID 18615083. S2CID 4311712.

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[1] Roberts, George (1839). An etymological and explanatory dictionary of the terms and language of geology. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longmans. p. 7, 145. Retrieved 29 December 2021.

[NaEvo-2] "Odd Fish Find Contradicts Intelligent-Design Argument". National Geographic. July 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-17.

[3] Matt Friedman (2008-07-10). "The evolutionary origin of flatfish asymmetry". Nature. 454 (7201): 209–212. Bibcode:2008Natur.454..209F. doi:10.1038/nature07108. PMID 18615083. S2CID 4311712.

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