Deltoptychius
| Deltoptychius Temporal range: Early Carboniferous–Late Carboniferous | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Holocephali |
| Order: | †Chimaeriformes |
| Family: | Deltoptychiidae |
| Genus: | Deltoptychius |
Deltoptychius is an extinct species of cartaliginous fish related to the modern chimaeras. It lived in the Carboniferous period of present-day Europe.
Although it emerged over 300 million years ago, Deltoptychius was similar in appearance to modern-day chimaeras, possessing a long, whip-like tail and large, wing-like pectoral fins that it probably used to glide through the water. Deltoptychius`s large eyes allowed it to hunt in deep waters, crushing shellfish between solid tooth plates in its mouth.[1]