Palaeobalistum

Palaeobalistum Temporal range: Albian-Early Eocene ~112.6–48.6 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Palaeobalistum goedeli from Lebanon. Cretaceous (abt. 95 Ma)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	†Pycnodontiformes
Family:	†Pycnodontidae
Genus:	†Palaeobalistum Blainville, 1818 [1]
Species
See text

Palaeobalistum is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish which ranged from the Cretaceous to Eocene periods.[2]

Etymology

The Latin genus name derives from a Greek word meaning "thick tooth".[3]

Species

The following species have been described:[4]

• Palaeobalistum dossantosi Maury, 1930
• Palaeobalistum flavellatum Cope, 1886
• Palaeobalistum geiseri Thurmond, 1974
• Palaeobalistum goedeli Heckel, 1856[5]
• Palaeobalistum gutturosum Arambourg, 1954
• Palaeobalistum libanicum Kramberger, 1895
• Palaeobalistum orbiculatum Blainville, 1818
• Palaeobalistum ponsortii Heckel, 1854
• Palaeobalistum rectidens Thurmond, 1974
• Palaeobalistum zignoi Blot, 1987

Distribution

Fossils of Palaeobalistum have been found in:[6]

Cretaceous

• Gramame Formation, Brazil
• Greenhorn Limestone, Colorado
• Antlers Formation, Oklahoma
• Glen Rose, Paluxy and Walnut Formations, Texas
• Haqel Limestone, Lebanon[5]

Eocene

• Monte Bolca, Italy

See also

• Prehistoric fish
• List of prehistoric bony fish

References

1. Encyclopedia of Life
2. Online Sepkoski Database
3. Fossilmall
4. Global Name Index
5. Neal Robbins Paleobalistum goedeli
6. Palaeobalistum at Fossilworks.org