Megalampris
Appearance
Megalampris | |
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M. keyesi and Waipatia maerewhenua | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Lampriformes |
Family: | Lampridae |
Genus: | †Megalampris |
Species: | †M. keyesi
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Binomial name | |
†Megalampris keyesi Gottfried, Fordyce & Rust, 2006
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Megalampris keyesi is an extinct opah from the late Oligocene of New Zealand about 26 million years ago. It was recovered from the Otekaike Limestone in North Otago, by a team from the University of Otago. Its spectacular remains, mostly caudal skeleton, are on display in the Otago Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand. Comparison with the skeletons of living Lampris species suggest it was around 4 m in length when alive.
References
- ^ Gottfried, Michael D.; Fordyce, R. Ewan; Rust, Seabourne (2006). "Megalampris keyesi, a Giant Moonfish (Teleostei, Lampridiformes) from the Late Oligocene of New Zealand". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 6 (3): 544–551. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[544:MKAGMT]2.0.CO;2.