Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 2, 2026

Eotrigonodon

Eotrigonodon is a dubious form genus of ray-finned fish known from the Cretaceous to the Eocene. It is known only from isolated teeth. Formerly considered an early genus of tetraodontiform fish in the family "Eotrigonodontidae", more recent studies indicate that they likely represent the pharyngeal teeth of pycnodonts, which are an unrelated, entirely extinct group of fish. In addition, it may itself be a junior synonym for Stephanodus, another taxon based on pycnodont teeth. Yet other authors retain the genus as taxonomically unresolved.

Last revised
Jul 2, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
340 w
Citations
8
Source
Eotrigonodon
Temporal range:
Tooth of A. serratus (right) with a shark tooth
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Pycnodontiformes
Genus: Eotrigonodon
Weiler, 1929

Eotrigonodon ("dawn Trigonodon") is a dubious form genus of ray-finned fish known from the Cretaceous to the Eocene.1 It is known only from isolated teeth. Formerly considered an early genus of tetraodontiform fish in the family "Eotrigonodontidae",2 more recent studies indicate that they likely represent the pharyngeal teeth of pycnodonts, which are an unrelated, entirely extinct group of fish.34 In addition, it may itself be a junior synonym for Stephanodus, another taxon based on pycnodont teeth.3 Yet other authors retain the genus as taxonomically unresolved.5

The following species are known:2

Indeterminate remains are known from the Cenomanian of Brazil, the Late Paleocene of Mali, and the Lutetian of Ukraine.2

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  2. "PBDB Taxon". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  3. Kriwet, Jürgen (2005). "A comprehensive study of the skull and dentition of pycnodont fishes". Zitteliana. A (45): 135–188.
  4. Prasad, Guntupalli V.R. (2012-12-01). "Vertebrate biodiversity of the Deccan volcanic province of India: A review". Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 183 (6): 597–610. doi:10.2113/gssgfbull.183.6.597. ISSN 0037-9409.
  5. Murray, A. M.; Thewissen, J. G. M. (2008-03-12). "Eocene actinopterygian fishes from Pakistan, with the description of a new genus and species of channid (channiformes)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 28 (1): 41–52. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[41:EAFFPW]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634.