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Amiopsis

Osteichthyes - Amiiformes - Amiidae

Taxonomy
Amiopsis was named by Kner (1863) [Sepkoski's age data: J Tith-l J Tith-u Sepkoski's reference number: 452]. Its type is Amiopsis prisca. It is the type genus of Amiopsinae.

It was assigned to Amiidae by Kner (1863), Hay (1902), Woodward (1918); to Amiopsinae by Grande and Bemis (1998); and to Amiiformes by Sepkoski (2002).

Entered
by J. Sepkoski on 2003-01-23; modified by D. Sinopoli on 2026-05-06

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1833Megalurus Agassiz p. 13 figs. Vol I, Pl E, fig 4
1863Amiopsis Kner
1895Megalurus Woodward p. 363
1902Amiopsis Hay p. 380
1918Urocles Jordan
1918Amiopsis Woodward p. 90
1998Amiopsis Grande and Bemis p. 486
2002Amiopsis Sepkoski

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
RankNameAuthor
subclassActinopterygii()
NeopterygiiRegan 1923
infraclassHolostei(Müller 1846)
orderAmiiformesHay 1929
suborderAmioidei
familyAmiidae
subfamilyAmiopsinae
genusAmiopsisKner 1863

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. †Amiopsis Kner 1863
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Amiopsis damoni Egerton 1858
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Invalid names: Megalurus austeni Egerton 1858 [synonym]
Amiopsis dolloi Traquair 1911
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Invalid names: Amiopsis lata Traquair 1911 [synonym]
Amiopsis lepidota Agassiz 1833
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Invalid names: Megalurus brevicostatus Agassiz 1834 [synonym], Megalurus grandis Wagner 1863 [synonym]
Amiopsis prisca Kner 1863
Amiopsis woodwardi Sauvage 1903
Invalid names: Urocles Jordan 1918 [synonym]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
R. Kner 1863To my knowledge, this is the first time we have a fossil ganoid that not only proves to belong to the family Amiidae, but must be considered the ancestor of the living genus Amia, if the characteristic features of the skeleton, previously known only from Amia, are to be truly trusted as exclusive characteristics. These consist not only of the shape of the tail end and the caudal sac itself, but especially of the presence of scoliotic vertebrae on the tail, the likes of which are not known from any other living or fossil genus.
A. S. Woodward 1918Trunk elongate and laterally compressed . Head large ; all the marginal teeth large and conical , but those of the dentary largest ; inner teeth smaller ; maxilla laterally compressed and deepened behind . Vertebral centra completely ossified in the adult , biconcave , the hypocentra and pleurocentra forming distinct alternating discs in the caudal region ; each centrum impressed with three or more extended pits on its side ; ribs short . Fins without fringing fulcra , the rays articulated and branching ; dorsal fin occupying not more than one - third of the back ; anal fin small and short - based ; caudal fin with convex
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinesubp
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: nektobenthico
Diet: carnivoreo
Diet 2: piscivoreo
Created: 2009-07-20 20:51:40
Modified: 2013-12-06 11:51:31
Source: o = order, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988

Age range: base of the Berriasian to the top of the Turonian or 143.10000 to 89.80000 Ma

Collections (7 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Berriasian143.1 - 137.05United Kingdom (England) Megalurus austeni (52301)
Late/Upper Hauterivian - Late/Upper Barremian132.6 - 121.4United Kingdom (England) Megalurus damoni (80512)
Early/Lower Barremian125.77 - 121.4Spain (Cataluña) Megalurus woodwardi (85293)
Late/Upper Barremian125.77 - 121.4Spain (Castilla-La Mancha) A. sp., Urocles woodwardi (28006)
Barremian - Early/Lower Aptian125.77 - 119.57Belgium (Hainaut) A. dolloi, A. lata (22645)
Cenomanian100.5 - 93.9Slovenia A. prisca (144686)
Turonian93.9 - 89.8Slovenia (Coastal–Karst) A. prisca (278531)