Blochius

Blochius longirostris

• Monte Bolca ( northern Italy)
• Congo?

Blochius is an extinct genus of fish, whose fossil remains have been found in the northern Italian Monte Bolca lineup. Some Rostralfragmente that may Blochius must be assigned to originate from the Congo.

Features

Blochius was about 60 cm long and had a very sleek elongated shape, a narrow head with an extended upper and lower jaw, and big eyes. The long upper jaw is formed by the premaxilla and has longitudinal edges. He is usually longer than the lower jaw. Both jaws are studded with sharp teeth. The dorsal fin extends fringe-like over the entire body, which also saumartige anal fin begins just below the midsection. The dorsal fin can possibly be laid down during fast swimming in a pit. The paired fins are small, crescent-shaped caudal fin. The 24 vertebrae have elongated, with the exception of the last caudal vertebra no Neuralfortsätze. The caudal fin skeleton consists of two vertebrae, a Epurale, an elongated, detached bones, and two Hypuralia. Two rows over a large area of overlapping scales extending from the rear edge of the gill cover to the tail fin shaft.

Way of life

Probably Blochius was a predator that ( is Monte Bolca a Ablangerung the Tethysnordküste ) in the Tethys lived in the upper 100 meters of the water column and with a sinusoidal motion ( anguilliforme swimming behavior ) of the body swam and hunted.

Species

• Blochius longirostris Volta, 1796 ( type species )
• ( Only one known copy ) Blochius macropterus de Zigno, 1887
• " Blochius " moorheadi Eastman, 1911 ( nomen dubium )

System

Blochius is the only genus of the family Blochiidae that with the recent sword and spear fishing ( order Istiophoriformes ) is related.