Hypsidoris
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Hypsidoris |
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Extinct (fossil)
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Hypsidoris is an extinct genus of catfish, classified within its own family Hypsidoridae, from the Eocene period. It was about 20 cm (8 in) long.[citation needed]
Hypsidoris looked very similar to the modern catfish, also possessing sensitive barbels used to detect prey in murky waters. It also had a vibration-sensitive organ called the Weberian apparatus, which consisted of specialized vertebrae at the front of the spinal column which passed vibrations to the inner ear, using the swim bladder as a resonance chamber. For defense against predators, Hypsidoris had large spines at the front of each pectoral fin.[citation needed]
There are two species. H. farsonensis is from the Early Middle Eocene of Wyoming and H. oregonensis is from the Middle Eocene of Oregon.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. ISBN 0471250317.