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 similar to that of a flying fish. It is possible that it could glide through the air just like them. However, it is accepted by Scientists and Paleontologists that Iniopteryx was indeed a fish that was the bottom-dwelling kind.

Sources

• Vertebrate Palaeontology by Michael J. Benton

http://www.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