Aspidorhynchus

Aspidorhynchus; Temporal range: Middle Jurassic–Late Cretaceous PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Aspidorhynchus acustirostris
Conservation status
	Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Infraphylum:	Gnathostomata
Superclass:	Osteichthyes
Order:	Aspidorhynchiformes; Bleeker, 1859
Family:	Aspidorhynchidae; Bleeker, 1859
Genus:	Aspidorhynchus
Species:	A. acustirostris

Aspidorhynchus (meaning "shield snout") is an extinct genus of ray-finned fish from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Fossils have been found in Europe and Antarctica.

Aspidorhynchus was a slender, fast-swimming fish, 60 centimetres (2.0 ft) long, with tooth-lined, elongated jaws. It also had heavy scales and a symmetrical tail. The upper jaw was longer than the lower jaw, ending in a toothless spike. Although it would have looked superficially similar to the present day gar, its closest living relative is actually the bowfin.^[1]

References

^ Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 38. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

Palaeobiology Database

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[EoDP-1] Palmer, D., ed. (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 38. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.

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