Dorypterus
Dorypterus is an extinct genus of prehistoric bony fish from the Wuchiapingian. It is a bobasatraniiform with a high dorsal fin. Dorypterus is the only member of its family, the Dorypteridae. It has two species, Dorypterus hoffmanni and Dorypterus althausi.
Description[change | change source]
This small fish did not exceed 15 cm. The most unusual feature of Dorypterus was its dorsal fin, which was exceptionally high. D. hoffmanni has a long dorsal fin, while D. althausi has a short dorsal fin.
Classification[change | change source]
Discovery[change | change source]
The type species, D. hoffmanni, was described by Germar in 1842. On that same year, D. althausi was described by Georg Zu Münster.
Species[change | change source]
- †Dorypterus hoffmanni Germar, 1842 (type species)
- †Dorypterus althausi Münster, 1842
References[change | change source]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dorypterus.
- Schaumberg, Günther (1977). "Die Richelsdorfer Kupferschiefer und seine Fossilien, III". Aufschluss. 28: 297–352.