Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Menaspiformes

Menaspiformes are an extinct order of holocephalans known from the Carboniferous and Permian periods, with a possible member, Listracanthus, known from the Early Triassic. Members of the order are believed to be durophagous benthic carnivores. While historically menaspiforms were classified under Chimaeriformes, they are today recognized as a separate order.

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
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≈ 1 min
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Citations
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Wikipedia ↗
Menaspiformes
Temporal range: Possible member Listracanthus survives until the Olenekian.
Life reconstructions of Menaspis and Deltoptychius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Holocephali
Order: †Menaspiformes
Nelson, 2006
Type genus
Menaspis
Edward, 1848
Families and genera
  • †Deltoptychiidae
  • †Menaspidae
  • †Traquairiidae
  • †Listracanthus?

Menaspiformes are an extinct order of holocephalans known from the Carboniferous and Permian periods,1 with a possible member, Listracanthus,2 known from the Early Triassic. Members of the order are believed to be durophagous benthic carnivores.13 While historically menaspiforms were classified under Chimaeriformes,2 they are today recognized as a separate order.3

References

References

  1. "Menaspiformes". Mindat.org. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  2. "The phylogeny of the chimaeroids". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 249 (757): 101–219. 1965-06-10. doi:10.1098/rstb.1965.0010. ISSN 2054-0280.
  3. "PBDB Taxon". The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 26 August 2024.