Diplomystus

Diplomystus from Wyoming

Diplomystus is an extinct genus of double-armored herring from the Eocene of Wyoming. It was described by Edward Drinker Cope in 1877. The type species of this genus is Diplomystus dentatus.

Description

Diplomystus possessed a laterally compressed body and a deep belly. The dorsal fin was halfway down the body. It looked a bit like a herring in appearance. It had a deeply forked caudal fin, much like a herring.

Ecology

Some specimens are found with another clupeomorph called Knightia. Diplomystus was possibly both a freshwater and saltwater fish. Some fossils of D. dentatus had prey inside their body. The bigger forms were active predators. The smaller forms were also predators, but they only ate smaller organisms.

Gallery

Diplomystus eating a fish

Diplomystus sp. fossil

Diplomystus birdii and a lobster

References

1. Yabumoto, Yoshitaka; Seong-Young Yang; Tae-Wan Kim (2006). "Early Cretaceous Freshwater Fishes From Japan and Korea" (PDF). Japan Paleontological Society Korea. 22 (1): 119–132.
2. Nelson, Gareth J. (1973). "Notes on the structure and relationships of certain Cretaceous and Eocene teleostean fishes". American Museum Novitates. New York, New York, USA: American Museum of Natural History (2524). hdl:2246/2730.

Other websites

• Data related to Diplomystus at Wikidata