Pachycormus (fish)

For other uses, see Pachycormus. For the species of plant, see Pachycormus discolor.
Pachycormus is an extinct genus of pachycormiform from the Toarcian (about 185–182 million years ago) of Europe. This fish had no pelvic fins.

 Description 
Pachycormus superficially resembled a giant tuna. It was able to grow 1 m (3.5 ft) in length. It is characterized by falciform pectoral fins. The teeth are short and designed for grasping.

The caudal fin was deeply forked, just like a modern-day tuna. The body was covered with small scales equipped with ganoine.

 Classification 
The type species P. macropterus was first named as a species of Elops by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1818. However, this species was placed into Pachycormus by Louis Agassiz in 1833.
 As a basal fish 
Pachycormus is the second most basal pachycormiform after Euthynotus.

 Distribution 
Fossils have been found in marine deposits from France, Germany, and England.

 Image gallery 

 Related pages 

 Pleuropholis
 Amblypterus
 Orthocormus
 Bonnerichthys

 References 

 Roberts, George (1839). An etymological and explanatory dictionary of the terms and language of geology. p. 129. Retrieved 31 December 2021.

Category:Extinct fish
Category:Ray-finned fish
Category:Jurassic
Category:Animals of Europe