Crossognathiformes

Pachyrhizodus caninus, skeletal reconstructions in the North American Museum of Ancient Life.

• North and South America
• Europe
• Morocco
• Australia

The Crossognathiformes are an extinct marine teleost order from the class of ray-finned fishes ( Actinopterygii ). The group lived from the Lower Cretaceous to Paleocene.

Features

The Crossognathiformes were medium-sized fishes with slender body, long head and a pointed snout with a deep foot column. The short, triangular dorsal fin was sitting in front of the midsection. The pectoral fins were slender and narrow, split the tail fin deeply.

Outer systematics

The systematic position of the Crossognathiformes is uncertain. What is certain is that they to the Teleostei, include the higher teleosts. Loius tavern assigns it as a primitive sister group of the Clupeomorpha and Euteleostei within the Clupeocephala.

Inside systematics

• Subordination Crossognathoidei Apsopelix
• Crossognathus

• Family Notelopidae Notelops

• Elopopsis
• Greenwood Ella
• Pachyrizodontus
• Pachyrizodus
• Platinx ( only genus from the Paleocene )
• Rhacolepis