''Ichthyoceros spinosus'' is an extinct
pycnodontid that lived during the lower
Cenomanian
The Cenomanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age (geology), age of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or the lowest stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Cretace ...
of what is now Lebanon.
''I. spinosus'' had a triple, forward-pointing horn-like spine between its eyes, very similar to the single spine of ''
Trewavasia'', and a massive, multipointed spine emanating from
the back of its head. It was originally placed in the family
Coccodontidae
Coccodontidae is a family of extinct pycnodontid fish that lived during the lower Cenomanian. The various genera had massive, curved spines.
The family is composed of five genera, the type genus, '' Coccodus'', '' Paracoccodus'' which was spli ...
, but then was transferred to "Trewavasiidae" with ''Trewavasia''. Recently, it has been placed in
Gladiopycnodontidae due to recent anatomical similarities with the various genera within that family, including ''
Gladiopycnodus''.
See also
*
Prehistoric fish
__NOTOC__
Prehistoric fish are early fish that are known only from fossil records. They are the earliest known vertebrates, and include the first and extinct fish that lived through the Cambrian to the Quaternary. The study of prehistoric fish is ...
*
List of prehistoric bony fish
This list of prehistoric bony fish is an attempt to create a comprehensive listing of all Genus, genera from the fossil record that have ever been considered to be bony fish (class Osteichthyes), excluding purely vernacular terms. The list includ ...
* ''
Trewavasia'', its close relative
References
Pycnodontiformes genera
Late Cretaceous fish
Extinct animals of Europe
Monotypic prehistoric ray-finned fish genera
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