''Zaphlegulus venturaensis'' is an extinct, superficially

mackerel Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of pelagic fish, mostly from the family Scombridae. They are found in both temperate and tropical seas, mostly living along the coast or offshore in the oceanic environment. ...

-like, fish related to the cutlassfish and

snake mackerel The snake mackerel (''Gempylus serpens'') is the sole species of fish in the monotypic genus ''Gempylus'', belonging to the family Gempylidae (which is also referred to generally as "snake mackerels"). It is found worldwide in tropical and sub ...

s found off the coast of what is now

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

during the late

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recent" ...

. ''Z. venturaensis'' was shorter, but stouter than either of the other two better known genera of the extinct

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Zaphlegidae, ''

Thyrsocles ''Thyrsocles'' is an extinct genus of prehistoric bony fish that lived during the Upper Miocene subepoch. See also * Prehistoric fish * List of prehistoric bony fish A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: ...

'' and '' Euzaphleges'', which also lived at the same time.David, Lore Rose. January 10, 1943. Miocene Fishes of Southern California The Society p 104-105

References

Euzaphlegidae Prehistoric perciform genera Miocene fish of North America {{Scombroidei-stub