In life, either genus would have resembled a somewhat-flattened boxfish with five massive spines along the anterior-dorsal side, with the longest spine directly above the forehead, and the shortest spine directly in front of the dorsal fin. Protobalistum is distinguished from its close, sympatric relative, Spinacanthus, in that its scales are large, and form a sort of armor. In Spinacanthus, the individual scales are relatively small, and do not touch each other.
Protobalistum and Spinacanthus were a part of the ecosystem of the lagoon that became Monte Bolca. Because of their similarity to boxfish, and due to their close relation to modern-day triggerfish, spinacanthids may have preyed on shellfish and small fish.
A remarkable new genus of Tetraodontiform fish with features of both Balistids and Ostraciids from the Eocene of Turkmenistan (contains a brief discussion and description of Spinacanthidae)
^ abSepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
spinacanthidae, extinct, prehistoric, family, tetraodontid, bony, fish, that, lived, from, lutetian, epoch, eocene, monte, bolca, temporal, range, early, middle, eocene, preꞒ, reconstruction, spinacanthus, scientific, classification, kingdom, animalia, phylum,. Spinacanthidae is an extinct prehistoric family of tetraodontid bony fish that lived from the Lutetian epoch of Eocene Monte Bolca 1 SpinacanthidaeTemporal range Early Middle Eocene 1 PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Reconstruction of Spinacanthus Scientific classification Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Tetraodontiformes Suborder Balistoidei Superfamily Balistoidea Family Spinacanthidae Genera Spinacanthus Protobalistum In life either genus would have resembled a somewhat flattened boxfish with five massive spines along the anterior dorsal side with the longest spine directly above the forehead and the shortest spine directly in front of the dorsal fin Protobalistum is distinguished from its close sympatric relative Spinacanthus in that its scales are large and form a sort of armor In Spinacanthus the individual scales are relatively small and do not touch each other Protobalistum and Spinacanthus were a part of the ecosystem of the lagoon that became Monte Bolca Because of their similarity to boxfish and due to their close relation to modern day triggerfish spinacanthids may have preyed on shellfish and small fish See also edit nbsp Paleontology portal nbsp Fish portal Eospinus another close relative from the Earliest Eocene of Turkmenistan Eolactoria another extinct tetraodontid from Monte Bolca Proaracana another extinct tetraodontid from Monte Bolca Prehistoric fish List of prehistoric bony fishReferences editA remarkable new genus of Tetraodontiform fish with features of both Balistids and Ostraciids from the Eocene of Turkmenistan contains a brief discussion and description of Spinacanthidae a b Sepkoski Jack 2002 A compendium of fossil marine animal genera Bulletins of American Paleontology 364 560 Retrieved 2009 02 27 nbsp This article about prehistoric Tetraodontiformes is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spinacanthidae amp oldid 1186373417, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
