Hypsocormus

Restoration of Hypsocormus insignis

Hypsocormus (from Greek: ῠ̔́ψος húpsos, 'height' and Greek: κορμός kormós 'timber log') is a genus of pachycormiform from the Jurassic with fossils being found in Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The two species are H. insignis and H. posterodorsalis.

Description

Hypsocormus was about 1 m (3.3 ft) long, with a caudal fin just like a mackerel. It had a dorsal fin, long pectoral fins and tiny pelvic fins.

Classification

Discovery

In 1860, Johann Andreas Wagner discovered the type species, H. insignis. The species was then placed into this genus. For a long time, it has been considered to be the only species of Hypsocormus. However, in 2020, Maxwell and others described a new species, H. posterodorsalis. There are currently two species in this genus.

Species

• †Hypsocormus insignis Wagner, 1860 (type species)
• †Hypsocormus posterodorsalis Maxwell et al. 2020

Image gallery

Fossil of Hypsocormus insignis

Hypsocormus insignis and Hypsocormus posterodorsalis

Related pages

• Ohmdenia
• Synapturanus zombie
• Pseudoasthenocormus

References

1. "Hypsocormus" Archived 2021-12-14 at the Wayback Machine. Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 17 December 2021.