Asarotus

Asarotus Temporal range: Campanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	†Asarotiformes Schaeffer, 1968
Family:	†Asarotidae Schaeffer, 1968
Genus:	†Asarotus Schaeffer, 1968
Species:	†A. arcanus
Binomial name
†Asarotus arcanus Schaeffer, 1968

Asarotus is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish from the Niobrara Formation of Nebraska, during the Campanian.[1] The type species, A. arcanus is only known from poorly preserved single specimen, which makes hard to classify existing orders of Cretaceous actinopterygians. It is thus classified as the only member of its family Asarotidae and order Asarotiformes.[2][3] Some authorities consider it a late-surviving member of the "palaeonisciform" fishes.[2]

References

1. Schaeffer, Bobb (1968). A new actinopterygian fish from the Cretaceous of North America (PDF). American Museum of Natural History Library. New York, N.Y. : American Museum of Natural History.
2. "PBDB". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
3. Shimada, K.; Fielitz, C. (2006). "ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF FOSSIL FISHES FROM THE SMOKY HILL CHALK OF THE NIOBRARA CHALK ( UPPER CRETACEOUS ) IN KANSAS". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 35.