Pholidophorus

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Pholidophorus
Fossil range: Mid Triassic to Late Jurassic

Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Pachycormiformes
Genus: Pholidophorus

Pholidophorus is an extinct genus of teleost ray-finned fish from the Triassic and Jurassic periods. It was about 40 cm (1 ft 4 in) long and one of the first true bony fish.

Pholidophorus had large eyes and was probably a fast-swimming predator, hunting planktonic crustaceans. Also, other bony fish have been found in the creature's stomach region. A very early teleost, Pholidophoris had many primitive characteristics such as ganoid scales and a spine that was only partially made of true bone (the rest was still cartilage).