''Scheenstia'' is an extinct genus of

neopterygian Neopterygii (from Greek νέος ''neos'' 'new' and πτέρυξ ''pteryx'' 'fin') is a subclass of ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii). Neopterygii includes the Holostei and the Teleostei, of which the latter comprise the vast majority of extant f ...

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or h ...

from the

Late Jurassic The Late Jurassic is the third epoch of the Jurassic Period, and it spans the geologic time from 163.5 ± 1.0 to 145.0 ± 0.8 million years ago (Ma), which is preserved in Upper Jurassic strata.Owen 1987. In European lithostratigraphy, the name ...

–

Early Cretaceous The Early Cretaceous (geochronology, geochronological name) or the Lower Cretaceous (chronostratigraphy, chronostratigraphic name), is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous. It is usually considered to stretch from 145& ...

of Europe. Fossils have been found in both marine and freshwater environments. Most species of the genus were previously referred to the related genus ''

Lepidotes ''Lepidotes'' (from el, λεπιδωτός , 'covered with scales') (previously known as ''Lepidotus'') is an extinct genus of Mesozoic ray-finned fish. It has been considered a wastebasket taxon, characterised by "general features, such as thi ...

'', but all

–

species of that genus have since been re-classified as ''Scheenstia'' following detailed phylogenetic analysis. It is a member of Lepisosteiformes meaning that is closest living relates are gars. The teeth of ''Scheenstia'' are low and rounded, and were likely used for crushing hard shelled organisms (

durophagy Durophagy is the eating behavior of animals that consume hard-shelled or exoskeleton bearing organisms, such as corals, shelled mollusks, or crabs. It is mostly used to describe fish, but is also used when describing reptiles, including fossil tu ...

). One species, the marine ''Scheenstia maximus'' from the Late Jurassic of Germany, could reach body lengths in excess of 1.5 metres.

Classification

''Scheenstia'' is related to the genus ''

''. The latter has been one of the greatest

actinopterygian Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or ho ...

wastebasket taxa, with one 2012 study finding species referrable to a minimum of three different and distantly related genera. ''Scheenstia'' is also related to '' Isanichthys''. A cladogram showing the relations of

Neopterygii Neopterygii (from Greek νέος ''neos'' 'new' and πτέρυξ ''pteryx'' 'fin') is a subclass of ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii). Neopterygii includes the Holostei and the Teleostei, of which the latter comprise the vast majority of extant ...

was published in the review, and a simplified version labelling the previous species of ''Lepidotes'' is shown here.

References

Lepisosteiformes Prehistoric ray-finned fish genera Cretaceous bony fish Mesozoic fish of Europe Fossil taxa described in 2011 {{Cretaceous-fish-stub