Turbomesodon relegans
GRI #456
The deep, laterally compressed body of this fish is typical of the Pycnodontiformes, an extinct order of fish typically interpreted as reef dwellers (Cawley et al., 2021). The fins are large and broad, which made them highly maneuverable around reef environments. The mouth points downward and the teeth appear adapted for crushing hard skeletal material (see images below) (Kriwet, 2005). Turbomesodon relegans has been described in the literature with different names, such as Gyronchus macropterus or Macromesodon macropterus, but a revision of fossil material (including the type specimen form Solnhofen) led Poyato-Ariza & Wenz (2004) to establish this new genus and species.
Turbomesodon head close-up.
Turbomesodon teeth close-up.
References:
Cawley, J.J., Marramà, G., Carnevale, G., Villafaña, J.A., López‐Romero, F.A. and Kriwet, J., 2021. Rise and fall of† Pycnodontiformes: Diversity, competition and extinction of a successful fish clade. Ecology and Evolution, 11(4), pp. 1769-1796. doi:10.1002/ece3.7168.
Kriwet, J., 2005. A comprehensive study of the skull and dentition of pycnodont fishes. Zitteliana, 45, pp. 135-188. Available at: www.researchgate.net.
Poyato-Ariza, F.J., & Wenz, S., 2004. The new pycnodontid fish genus Turbomesodon, and a revision of Macromesodon based on new material from the Lower Cretaceous of Las Hoyas, Cuenca, Spain. In G. Arratia & A. Tintori (eds.), Mesozoic Fishes 3 - Systematics, Paleoenvironments and Biodiversity: Verlag, Munchen, Germany. pp. 341-378. ISBN: 3-89937-053-8.