Nelson, J.S., 1994

Notacanthiformes halosaurs and deep-sea spiny eels

Teleostei

Albuliformes 80 M years

Forey, P., D. Littlewood, P. Ritchie and A. Meyer, 1996  |  Carroll, R., 1988

late Cretaceous

Marine

Fresh

Brackish

Body eel-like; posteriorly directed spine on dorsal edge of rear of maxilla; premaxilla and maxilla bordering upper jaw; gill membranes separate; pectoral fins relatively high on body; pelvic fins abdominal, with 7-11 rays (the two fins are usually connected by a membrane); anal fin base long and merged with what remains of the caudal fin; caudal fin skeleton reduced or absent; tail easily regenerated when lost; branchiostegal rays 5-23; swim bladder present. Some have photophores.

Greek aktis = ray, thunderbolt, beam + Greek pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin. Ref. 45335.

Greek, noton = back + Greek, akantha = thorn + Latin, forma = shape (Ref. 45335).

( n = 2 )
Halosauridae Notacanthidae

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948 ]      

Glossary
      [ e.g. oophagy ]