Bajaichthys is an extinct Ypresian (early Eocene) zeid from the Monte Bolca Lagerstätten of Italy. It contains a single species, B. elegans, and is the only member of the family Bajaichthyidae.[2]
| Bajaichthys Temporal range: Ypresian,
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| Life restoration | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Zeiformes |
| Family: | †Bajaichthyidae Bannikov & Sorbini in Bannikov, 2014 |
| Genus: | †Bajaichthys Sorbini, 1983 |
| Species: | †B. elegans
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| Binomial name | |
| †Bajaichthys elegans | |
Anatomy and appearance edit
The holotype is four centimeters in length. It has a deep, oblong-shaped body, a deep, but short head, a long tail composed of 27 caudal vertebrae, a long, crest-like dorsal fin, a long, banner-like anal fin with 29 to 30 rays running from the posterior region of the body down the entire length of the tail, and two enormous, wing-like pelvic fins.[1]
The holotype (and only known specimen) was originally described as the remains of a larval ("youthful") form due to its small size and due to its strong similarity to the larval form of trachypterid ribbonfish.[1]
Taxonomic status edit
Bajaichthys elegans' taxonomic has been debated since its description in 1983. Because it appeared to combine features of both taeniosomid lamprids (i.e., its larval form resembles those of oarfish and ribbonfish), and of bathysomid lamprids (the anatomy of the pelvis is extremely similar to that of sailfins[1]), it was attributed to an incertae sedis position within Lampriformes. Further research placed it within Zeiformes, another group of acanthomorph teleosts.[3] It is thought to be the second most basal member of the order, behind Archaeozeus.[4]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Sorbini, L., Bottura, C., "Bajaichthys elegans, AN EOCENE LAMPRIDIFORM FROM BOLCA (ITALY)" Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Verona 1987
- ^ "PBDB". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
- ^ Donald Davesne; Giorgio Carnevale; Matt Friedman (2017). "Bajaichthys elegans from the Eocene of Bolca (Italy) and the overlooked morphological diversity of Zeiformes (Teleostei, Acanthomorpha)". Palaeontology. 60 (2): 255–268. Bibcode:2017Palgy..60..255D. doi:10.1111/pala.12280. hdl:2027.42/136341.
- ^ Near, Thomas J; Thacker, Christine E (18 April 2024). "Phylogenetic classification of living and fossil ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)". Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 65. doi:10.3374/014.065.0101.
External links edit
- Bajaicthys at the Paleobiology Database
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