Pachycormus (fish)
For other uses, see Pachycormus. For the species of plant, see Pachycormus discolor.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Illustration_of_Pachycormus_macropterus.jpg/220px-Illustration_of_Pachycormus_macropterus.jpg)
Pachycormus is an extinct genus of pachycormiform from the Toarcian (about 185–182 million years ago) of Europe. This fish had no pelvic fins.
Description[change | change source]
Pachycormus superficially resembled a giant tuna. It was able to grow 1 m (3.5 ft) in length. It is characterized by falciform pectoral fins. The teeth are short and designed for grasping.
The caudal fin was deeply forked, just like a modern-day tuna. The body was covered with small scales equipped with ganoine.
Classification[change | change source]
The type species P. macropterus was first named as a species of Elops by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1818. However, this species was placed into Pachycormus by Louis Agassiz in 1833.
As a basal fish[change | change source]
Pachycormus is the second most basal pachycormiform after Euthynotus.
Distribution[change | change source]
Fossils have been found in marine deposits from France, Germany, and England.
Image gallery[change | change source]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Pachycormus1.jpg/220px-Pachycormus1.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Pachycormus.jpg/220px-Pachycormus.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Pachycormus_head.png/220px-Pachycormus_head.png)
Related pages[change | change source]
References[change | change source]
- Roberts, George (1839). An etymological and explanatory dictionary of the terms and language of geology. p. 129. Retrieved 31 December 2021.