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Anaethalion
Taxonomy
Anaethalion was named by White (1938) [Sepkoski's age data: J Kimm-u K Vala-l Sepkoski's reference number: 452,915].
It was assigned to Elopidae by Forey (1973); and to Elopiformes by Arratia (2000), Sepkoski (2002).
It was assigned to Elopidae by Forey (1973); and to Elopiformes by Arratia (2000), Sepkoski (2002).
Species
Species lacking formal opinion data
Entered
by J. Sepkoski on 2003-01-23; modified by M. Carrano on 2013-04-30
Synonyms
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Synonymy list
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
G. †Anaethalion White 1938
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†Anaethalion knorri de Blainville 1818
†Anaethalion valdensis Woodward 1907
†Anaethalion zapporum Arratia 2000
Invalid names: Aethalion Munster 1842 [replaced]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| J. Wagner 1863 (Aethalion) | Münster (1839) initially classified the species belonging to this group under Caturus. However, after becoming convinced that they did not have large, conical teeth, but rather small, fine ones; that furthermore, the dorsal fin was not opposite the pelvic fin, but rather the space between the anal and pelvic fins; and that the spinous processes of the caudal vertebrae did not lean against the vertebrae, but rather projected from them, he separated these forms from Caturus and established the new genus Aethalion (1842) from them. He misjudged their correct position within the system, however, leading Agassiz to believe that they could be classified under Pholidophorus; an opinion that is clearly refuted by the fact that Pholidophorus belongs to the rhomboid scales, while Aethalion belongs to the disc scales.
Heckel (Wein. Sitzungsberichte) had, considering the similar formation of the vertebral end in Thrissops and Leptolepis, placed Aethalion between these two genera, and I previously followed his classification. However, closer examination has shown me that this is entirely incorrect and that Aethalion does not even belong to the same group. The latter genus has a completely different mouth structure than that found in the bare-finned fishes: neither is the premaxilla, as in these, a bone hanging freely backwards, nor does the lower jaw have an upward-rising process. The formation of the mouth parts, and indeed the entire habitus, places Aethalion in closest relation to Macrorhipis, from which the former genus differs in that the narrow dorsal fin is set further back and is directly opposite the space between the pelvic and anal fins, that the caudal peduncle is more slender, the body more elongated, and the head even broader, and especially the lower jaw even more massive. — Viewed from above, the... Both upper jaws have widely spaced arches that converge rapidly at the front and taper into a blunt, cone-shaped point; the lower jaw, which is very high posteriorly, tapers rapidly to a point anteriorly. Both jaws are covered with very fine teeth. The vertebral column is composed of strong, bony vertebrae. As Heckel already noted, the shingle-like covering is only indicated at the base of the caudal fin by a few fulcra. Münster had distinguished six species of Aethalion, almost all of them from Kelheim, of which just as many specimens are kept in his collection; since then, we have received a few more specimens from Kelheim, Eichstätt, and Solenhofen. Based on my comparisons, I can say that the six Münster species... I only recognize two species as justified, whereby I must note that I have combined Aethalion subovatus Münst. with Macrorhipis Münsteri. The third species to be included here is Leptolepis crassa Ag. |