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Ophiopsis
Taxonomy
Ophiopsis was named by Agassiz (1834) [Sepkoski's age data: Tr Ladi J Tith-l Sepkoski's reference number: 2,718].
It was assigned to Sauroidei by Wagner (1863); to Macrosemiidae by Woodward (1895), Woodward (1918); to Ophiopsidae by Bartram (1975); to Ophiopsiidae by Bürgin (1995), Cartanyà (1999); and to Macrosemiiformes by Sepkoski (2002).
It was assigned to Sauroidei by Wagner (1863); to Macrosemiidae by Woodward (1895), Woodward (1918); to Ophiopsidae by Bartram (1975); to Ophiopsiidae by Bürgin (1995), Cartanyà (1999); and to Macrosemiiformes by Sepkoski (2002).
Species
Entered
by J. Sepkoski on 2003-01-23; modified by D. Sinopoli on 2026-06-18
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. †Ophiopsis Agassiz 1834
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†Ophiopsis aequalis Wagner 1863
†Ophiopsis altivelis Wagner 1863
†Ophiopsis attenuata Wagner 1863
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Invalid names: Ophiopsis guigardi Thiollière 1873 [synonym], Ophiopsis macrodus Thiolliere 1873 [synonym]
†Ophiopsis bellottii Bassani 1886
†Ophiopsis breviceps Egerton 1852
†Ophiopsis intermedia Wagner 1863
†Ophiopsis lepersonni de Saint-Seine 1950
†Ophiopsis montsechensis Wenz 1968
†Ophiopsis muensteri Agassiz 1834
†Ophiopsis penicillata Agassiz 1843
†Ophiopsis serrata Wagner 1852
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| J. Wagner 1863 | The most important characteristics by which Agassiz characterized this genus are that the body is elongated, the scaling is almost uniform throughout, the dorsal fin is half the length of the back but not particularly high, and the pelvic fins are positioned opposite the middle of the dorsal fin. Regarding this characteristic, I must add that until now only defective specimens of the dorsal fin have been available; in its complete state, as I now have seen it from three specimens. I know that the first rays are extraordinarily long, but shorten rapidly further along. Both the dorsal and caudal fins are covered with shingles; the latter is more or less notched, and its upper lobe is extensively scaled. The pectoral and pelvic fins are also quite large, while the anal fin is rather small. The head is short, and both jaws are covered with a single row of fine teeth. The genus Ophiopsis is very closely related to those species of Pholidophorus. which are also long and uniformly scaled: ; one can, however, always distinguish them by the fact that in the latter, the dorsal fin is short and only begins opposite the anterior margin of the pelvic fin, while in Ophiopsis the dorsal fin is long, so that it extends beyond the pelvic fin with both its anterior and posterior ends, the latter being only opposite the central part of the dorsal fin.
Agassiz knew of only two species from our lithographic slate: Oph. munsteri and procera, to which I added a third as Oph. serrata; each represented by only a single specimen in the local collection. Through the new acquisitions, two further specimens, each in a double plate, have been added; one of which I have designated as a special The variety (Oph. aequalis) is placed next to Oph. procera, for the other a separate species, Oph. intermedia, has been established. 'Furthermore, I must now separate Münster's Pholidophorus tenuiserratus from Pholidophorus and refer it to Ophiopsis. Finally, in the collection of Dr. Oberndorfer, I had the opportunity to see two more specimens of Oph. serrata, which are far better preserved than ours.' Thiolliere also lists two species from Cirin, one of which he named Oph. macrodus. To the descriptions of the new species, I add some remarks on those already published. | |
| A. S. Woodward 1918 | Trunk much elongated , and the dorsal margin only slightly arcuate ; head large or of moderate size . Marginal teeth acutely pointed . Notochord surrounded by delicate ring - vertebræ ; ribs ossified . Bifurcation of dorsal fin - rays variable ; fulcra present , comparatively stout at the base of the dorsal and caudal fins . Paired fins relatively large ; dorsal fin ordinarily extending about half the length of the back , high in front , low behind ; anal fin small and well forwards ; caudal fin forked . Scales covering the whole of the trunk , in regular series , united by peg - and - socket articulation , and often pectinated at the hinder border ; the scales of the middle of the flank scarcely deeper than broad , few of the ventral scales much broader than deep ; no enlarged ridge - scales | |
| A. W. H. Bartram 1975 | Small to medium sized ophiopsid fishes; skull roof narrow,constricted between the orbits; nasals curved ventrolaterally, rostral small and tubular; a few large supraorbitals; 3-4 large sub-orbitals; infraorbitals moderately deep; maxilla bearing small peg-like teeth and forming a pointed, laterally compressed medial process; nasal process of premaxilla vertical and facing laterally; mandible with long, slender, slightly curved dentigerous ramus and a moderately tall coronoid process; about 12 branchiostegal rays, gular about one-third of the length of the mandibles; vertebrae ossifying as complete rings throughout the length of the column including the ural region, diplospondylous in caudal region; centra composed of concentric auto- and chordacentra, the latter ossifying from dorsal and ventral centres; leading ray of pectoral fin reduced to splint-like hemitrichia; pelvic fin preceded by basal and fringing fulcra; upper edge of dorsal fin concave, leading ray preceded by basal and fringing fulcra; caudal fin bearing fulcra on dorsal edge only; dorsal and accessory lateral lines represented by pit organs |