Iniopteryx Temporal range:
Pennsylvanian,
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Iniopteryx rushlaui | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Holocephali |
Order: | † Iniopterygiformes |
Family: | † Iniopterygidae |
Genus: | † Iniopteryx |
Iniopteryx (" Nape Wing") is an extinct genus of cartilaginous fish. [1] [2] [3] [4] It is from the Pennsylvanian epoch of the Carboniferous period, approximately 300 million years ago. Their fossils have been found in North America, primarily in two states: Ohio and Montana. In general, very little is known about this species.
Iniopteryx was a chimaera-like fish, described as "plump". It is known that the species average size was around half a meter long in length. While the species had specialized spines and fins superficially similar to that of a flying fish, there is much speculation about whether it could glide like a flying fish, or was actually benthic.