| Exellia Temporal range: 34 Ma Thanetian to Lutetian |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Bilateria |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Superclass: | Osteichthyes |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Suborder: | Acanthuroidei |
| Family: | Ephippidae |
| Genus: | Exellia |
| Species | |
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Exellia is a genus of extinct spadefish that lived in the Tethys Ocean during the early Paleogene. The adult form is shaped akin to a large spadefish or a short dolphinfish, with very large pelvic fins, and a long dorsal fin starting from in front of the eyes to near the base of the caudal peduncle. The juvenile form resembles a juvenile drumfish, with the dorsal fin forming a long crest on top of the head.
The earlier species, E. proxima, is known from the Danata Formation Lagerstätten from the Late Paleocene of Turkmenistan. The latter-occurring species, E. velifer, is the better studied species, and is known from numerous adult and juvenile specimens from the Middle Eocene Monte Bolca Lagerstätten.
Most researchers regard Exellia as a spadefish, though, some remove this genus, and the related Eoluvarus[1] to a separate family, "Exelliidae."