Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 17, 2026

Esocelops

Esocelops is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine elopid ray-finned fish that lived during the Eocene. It contains a single species, E. cavifrons, known from the Early Eocene of England.

Last revised
Jun 17, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
252 w
Citations
4
Source
Esocelops
Temporal range:
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Elopiformes
Family: Elopidae
Genus: Esocelops
Woodward, 1901
Species:
E. cavifrons
Binomial name
Esocelops cavifrons
Woodward, 1901 ex Agassiz, 1845

Esocelops (portmanteau of Esox + Elops) is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine elopid ray-finned fish that lived during the Eocene.1 It contains a single species, E. cavifrons, known from the Early Eocene of England (London Clay).2

It was initially named, but not described, by Agassiz (1845) as Eurygnathus cavifrons, with Eurygnathus later being found to be both preoccupied by a beetle and synonymous with Enchodus. Woodward (1901) officially described it in the genus Esocelops, retaining Agassiz's original species name.34

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 2025-02-21.
  3. Geology, British Museum (Natural History) Department of; Woodward, Arthur Smith (1901). Catalogue of the Fossil Fishes in the British Museum (Natural History): Actinopterygian Teleostomi of the suborders Isospondyli (in part), Ostariophysi, Apodes, Percesoces, Hemibranchii, Acanthopterygii, and Anacanthini. order of the Trustees.
  4. Friedman, Matt; Beckett, Hermione T.; Close, Roger A.; Johanson, Zerina (2016-01-01), Johanson, Z.; Barrett, P. M.; Richter, M.; Smith, M. (eds.), "The English Chalk and London Clay: two remarkable British bony fish Lagerstätten", Arthur Smith Woodward: His Life and Influence on Modern Vertebrate Palaeontology, vol. 430, Geological Society of London, p. 0, ISBN 978-1-86239-741-5, retrieved 2025-02-21{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)