Chirocentrites is an extinct genus of marine ray-finned fish in the order Ichthyodectiformes. It contains a single species, C. coroninii, from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Slovenia (locality also sometimes given as Gorizia, Italy).[1][2][3] A potential specimen is also known from the Albian-aged Pietraroja Plattenkalk of southern Italy, but it has been suggested that this specimen actually represents Cladocyclus.[3][4]

Chirocentrites
Temporal range: Late Cenomanian
Possible Albian record
Life restoration of C. coroninii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Ichthyodectiformes
Family: Cladocyclidae
Genus: Chirocentrites
Heckel, 1849
Species:
C. coroninii
Binomial name
Chirocentrites coroninii
Heckel, 1849

Another species sometimes classified in this genus, Spathodactylus (or Chirocentrites) neocomiensis Pictet, 1858 from the Hauterivian of France, appears to be morphologically distinct from Chirocentrites and needs taxonomic revision. Two other species (C. microdon Heckel, 1849 and C. gracilis Heckel, 1849) from the Cenomanian of Croatia and Slovenia are now placed in the genus Heckelichthys. The species "C." guinensis from the Aptian/Albian of Equatorial Guinea & Gabon likely belongs to another genus, possibly Cladocyclus.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "PBDB Taxon". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  2. ^ Cavin, Lionel; Forey, Peter L.; Giersch, Samuel (2013). "Osteology of Eubiodectes libanicus (Pictet & Humbert, ) and some other ichthyodectiformes (Teleostei): phylogenetic implications". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 11 (2): 115–177. doi:10.1080/14772019.2012.691559. ISSN 1477-2019.
  3. ^ a b c Taverne, Louis (2008). "Considerations about the Late Cretaceous genus Chirocentrites and erection of the new genus Heckelichthys (Teleostei, Ichtyodectiformes) - A new visit inside the ichthyodectid phylogeny". Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique - Bulletin van het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen. 78: 209–228.
  4. ^ Bucci, Enrico (2005). "A new ichthyodectid fish from the lower Cretaceous of Pietraroja (Southern Italy)". www.PalArch.nl, vertebrate palaeontology. 2 (3).