Dorypterus
extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned bony fish
Dorypterus is an extinct genus of prehistoric bony fish from the Wuchiapingian. It is a bobasatraniiform with a high dorsal fin. Dorypterus is the only member of its family, the Dorypteridae. It has two species, Dorypterus hoffmanni and Dorypterus althausi.
Description
changeThis small fish did not exceed 15 cm. The most unusual feature of Dorypterus was its dorsal fin, which was exceptionally high. D. hoffmanni has a long dorsal fin, while D. althausi has a short dorsal fin.
Classification
changeDiscovery
changeThe type species, D. hoffmanni, was described by Germar in 1842. On that same year, D. althausi was described by Georg Zu Münster.
Species
change- †Dorypterus hoffmanni Germar, 1842 (type species)
- †Dorypterus althausi Münster, 1842
References
change
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dorypterus.
- Schaumberg, Günther (1977). "Die Richelsdorfer Kupferschiefer und seine Fossilien, III". Aufschluss. 28: 297–352.