Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Pycnodontidae

Osteichthyes - Trewavasiidae

Taxonomy
Pycnodontes was named by Agassiz (1833).

It was reranked as the suborder Pycnodontes by Owen (1859); it was corrected as Pycnodontidae by Cope (1877), Cope (1878), Cope (1887), Woodward (1895), Hay (1902), Woodward (1916), Gregory (1923), Rapp (1946), Arambourg and Bertin (1958), Gardiner (1960), Jordan (1963), Casier (1966), Applegate (1970), Sahni and Mishra (1975), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Kumar and Loyal (1987), Case and Schwimmer (1988), Nursall (1996), Weems (1999), Goodwin et al. (1999), Poyato-Ariza and Wenz (2002), Forey et al. (2003), Shimada et al. (2006), Nursall (2010), Poyato-Ariza (2010), Carnevale et al. (2014), Bannikov (2014), Ebersole et al. (2019), Sarr et al. (2024).

It was assigned to Ganoidei by Owen (1859); to Isospondyli by Cope (1877), Cope (1878); to Merospondyli by Cope (1887); to Protospondyli by Woodward (1895); to Actinopterygii by Woodward (1916); to Semionotoidea by Gregory (1923); to Semionotiformes by Arambourg and Bertin (1958); to Pycnodonti by Hay (1902), Rapp (1946), Jordan (1963); to Pycnodontoidea by Gardiner (1960), Poyato-Ariza and Wenz (2002); to Pycnodontoidei by Casier (1966), Nursall (1996), Forey et al. (2003); and to Pycnodontiformes by Applegate (1970), Sahni and Mishra (1975), Thurmond and Jones (1981), Kumar and Loyal (1987), Case and Schwimmer (1988), Weems (1999), Goodwin et al. (1999), Shimada et al. (2006), Nursall (2010), Poyato-Ariza (2010), Carnevale et al. (2014), Bannikov (2014), Ebersole et al. (2019), Sarr et al. (2024).

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1859Pycnodontes Owen p. 126
1877Pycnodontidae Cope p. 62
1878Pycnodontidae Cope p. 298
1887Pycnodontidae Cope p. 1018
1895Pycnodontidae Woodward p. 189
1902Pycnodontidae Hay p. 372
1916Pycnodontidae Woodward p. 47
1923Pycnodontidae Gregory p. 228
1946Pycnodontidae Rapp p. 511
1958Pycnodontidae Arambourg and Bertin p. 2176
1960Pycnodontidae Gardiner p. 363
1963Pycnodontidae Jordan p. 614
1966Pycnodontidae Casier p. 104
1970Pycnodontidae Applegate p. 401
1975Pycnodontidae Sahni and Mishra p. 12
1981Pycnodontidae Thurmond and Jones p. 85
1987Pycnodontidae Kumar and Loyal p. 68
1988Pycnodontidae Case and Schwimmer p. 297
1996Pycnodontidae Nursall p. 137
1999Pycnodontidae Goodwin et al. p. 732
1999Pycnodontidae Weems p. 55
2002Pycnodontidae Poyato-Ariza and Wenz
2003Pycnodontidae Forey et al. p. 228
2006Pycnodontidae Shimada et al. p. 21
2010Pycnodontidae Nursall
2010Pycnodontidae Poyato-Ariza p. 651
2014Pycnodontidae Bannikov p. 25
2014Pycnodontidae Carnevale et al. p. 41
2019Pycnodontidae Ebersole et al. p. 152
2024Pycnodontidae Sarr et al. p. 22 fig. 12

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
RankNameAuthor
classOsteichthyes
subclassActinopterygii()
—NeopterygiiRegan 1923
familyTrewavasiidae
familyPycnodontidae()
familyPycnodontidae()

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. †Pycnodontidae Agassiz 1833
show all | hide all
G. †Acrotemnus Agassiz 1837
+
†Acrotemnus faba Agassiz 1837
†Acrotemnus streckeri Hibbard 1939
Invalid names: Macropycnodon Shimada et al. 2010 [synonym]
G. †Agoultpycnodus Taverne and Capasso 2021
+
†Agoultpycnodus aldrovandii Taverne and Capasso 2021
G. †Anomoeodus Forir 1887
+
†Anomoeodus angustus Agassiz 1837
†Anomoeodus barberi Hussakof 1947
†Anomoeodus caddoi Suarez et al. 2021
†Anomoeodus latidens Gidley 1913
†Anomoeodus nursalli Kriwet 1999
+
Invalid names: Pycnodus faba Leidy 1872 [replaced]
†Anomoeodus splendidus Nessov 1985
†Anomoeodus subclavatus Agassiz 1833
†Anomoeodus willetti Woodward 1893
†Anomoeodus woodwardi Sauvage 1898
G. †Athrodon Sauvage 1880
+
†Athrodon boloniensis Sauvage 1880
†Athrodon douvillei Sauvage 1880
†Athrodon intermedius Wagner 1893
G. †Brauccipycnodus Taverne and Capasso 2021
+
†Brauccipycnodus pillae Capasso 2007
G. †Callodus Thurmond 1974
+
†Callodus coronatus Thurmond 1974
G. †Coelodus Haeckel 1854
+
†Coelodus arcuatus Woodward 1918
†Coelodus bocagei Sauvage 1898
†Coelodus brownii Cope 1894
†Coelodus choffati Sauvage 1898
†Coelodus cuneiformis Sauvage 1898
†Coelodus decaturensis Gidley 1913
†Coelodus delgadoi Sauvage 1898
†Coelodus fabadens Gidley 1913
†Coelodus hirudo Agassiz 1839
†Coelodus laevidens Woodward 1918
†Coelodus latus Gorjanović-Kramberger 1895
†Coelodus malwaensis Chiplonkar and Ghare 1977
†Coelodus mantelli Haeckel 1856
†Coelodus mesorachis Heckel 1856
†Coelodus multidens Woodward 1918
†Coelodus multipinnatus Gorjanović-Kramberger 1895
†Coelodus oblongus Heckel 1856
†Coelodus ovalis Gorjanović-Kramberger 1895
†Coelodus plethodon Arambourg and Joleaud 1943
†Coelodus riberoi Sauvage 1898
†Coelodus rostratus Gorjanović-Kramberger 1895
†Coelodus saturnus Haeckel 1856
+
Invalid names: Coelodus rosthorni Haeckel 1854 [synonym], Coelodus suillus Haeckel 1856 [synonym]
†Coelodus stantoni Williston 1900
†Coelodus vetteri Gorjanović-Kramberger 1895
Invalid names: Anomiophthalmus Costa 1853 [synonym], Glossodus Costa 1856 [synonym]
G. †Costapycnodus Taverne et al. 2019
+
†Costapycnodus costae Heckel 1856
+
Invalid names: Anomiophthalmus vetustus Costa 1853 [synonym], Coelodus discus Heckel 1856 [synonym], Coelodus pyrrhurus Heckel 1856 [synonym], Glossodus angustatus Costa 1856 [synonym], Microdon simplex Costa 1853 [synonym], Pycnodus achillis Costa 1853 [synonym], Pycnodus grandis Costa 1854 [synonym], Pycnodus rotundatus Costa 1853 [synonym]
G. †Flagellipinna Cawley and Kriwet 2019
+
†Flagellipinna rhomboides Cawley and Kriwet 2019
G. †Gregoriopycnodus Taverne et al. 2020
+
†Gregoriopycnodus bassanii Taverne et al. 2020
G. †Hadrodus Leidy 1857
+
†Hadrodus marshi Gregory 1950
†Hadrodus priscus Leidy 1857
G. †Haqelpycnodus Taverne and Capasso 2018
+
†Haqelpycnodus picteti Taverne and Capasso 2018
G. †Iemanja Wenz 1989
+
†Iemanja palma Wenz 1989
G. †Macromesodon Blake 1905
+
†Macromesodon macropterus Agassiz 1834
+
Invalid names: Macromesodon daviesi Woodward 1890 [synonym], Mesodon parvus Woodward 1895 [synonym]
G. †Mesodon Wagner 1851
+
†Mesodon bernissartensis Traquair 1911
†Mesodon bucklandi Agassiz 1833
†Mesodon daviesi Woodward 1890
†Mesodon diastematicus Cope 1894
†Mesodon limai Sauvage 1898
†Mesodon rugulosus Agassiz 1839
†Mesodon sharpei Sauvage 1898
†Mesodon tenuidens Woodward 1890
G. †Microdon Agassiz 1833
+
†Microdon abdominalis Agassiz 1833
†Microdon analis Agassiz 1833
†Microdon biserialis Woodward 1890
†Microdon discoides Woodward 1890
†Microdon penalvai Silva Santos 1970
G. †Njoerdichthys Cawley et al. 2020
+
†Njoerdichthys dyckerhoffi Cawley et al. 2020
Subfm. †Nursalliinae Blot 1987
+
G. †Abdobalistum Poyato-Ariza and Wenz 2002
+
†Abdobalistum thyrsus Poyato-Ariza and Wenz 2002
G. †Neomesturus Cooper and Martill 2020
+
†Neomesturus asflaensis Cooper and Martill 2020
G. †Nursallia Blot 1987
+
†Nursallia goedeli Heckel 1854
†Nursallia tethysensis Capasso et al. 2009
†Nursallia ventralis Davis 1887
†Nursallia veronae Blot 1987
†Pycnodus flabellatus Cope 1885
G. †Palaeobalistum Blainville 1818
+
†Palaeobalistum geiseri Thurmond 1974
†Palaeobalistum libanicum Gorjanović-Kramberger 1895
†Palaeobalistum orbiculatum Blainville 1818
+
Invalid names: Palaeobalistum zignoi Blot 1987 [objective synonym]
†Palaeobalistum rectidens Thurmond 1974
G. †Paranursallia Taverne et al. 2015
+
†Paranursallia cavini Cooper and Martill 2020
†Paranursallia gutturosa Arambourg 1954
G. †Ocloedus Poyato-Ariza and Wenz 2002
+
†Ocloedus rosadoi Silva Santos 1963
†Ocloedus subdiscus Wenz 1989
G. †Polypsephis Hay 1899
G. †Proscinetes Gistel 1848
+
†Proscinetes bassanii D'Erasmo 1911
†Proscinetes bernardi Thiollière 1852
†Proscinetes egertoni Thiollière 1852
†Proscinetes elegans Agassiz 1833
†Proscinetes radiatus Agassiz 1842
†Proscinetes wagneri Thiollière 1852
Subfm. †Proscinetinae Poyato-Ariza and Wenz 2002
+
G. †Neoproscinetes De Figueiredo and Silva Santos 1990
+
†Neoproscinetes penalvai Silva Santos 1970
Subfm. †Pycnodontinae Agassiz 1833
+
G. †Oropycnodus Poyato-Ariza and Wenz 2002
+
†Oropycnodus ponsorti Heckel 1854
G. †Polazzodus Poyato-Ariza 2010
+
†Polazzodus coronatus Poyato-Ariza 2010
G. †Pycnodus Agassiz 1833
+
†Pycnodus angustus Agassiz 1833
†Pycnodus apodus Volta 1796
+
Invalid names: Zeus platessus Blainville 1818 [synonym]
†Pycnodus bicresta Kumar and Loyal 1987
†Pycnodus bowerbanki Egerton 1877
†Pycnodus carolinensis Emmons 1858
†Pycnodus comminuens Hay 1916
†Pycnodus complanatus Agassiz 1834
†Pycnodus couloni Agassiz 1843
†Pycnodus cretaceus Agassiz 1839
†Pycnodus depressus Agassiz 1833
†Pycnodus didymus Agassiz 1839
†Pycnodus gigas Agassiz 1833
†Pycnodus granulatus Münster 1846
†Pycnodus hugii Agassiz 1833
†Pycnodus jugleri Münster 1846
†Pycnodus lametae Woodward 1908
†Pycnodus latior Agassiz 1833
†Pycnodus latirostris Agassiz 1843
†Pycnodus mantellii Agassiz 1839
+
Invalid names: Pycnodus microdon Agassiz 1833 [synonym]
†Pycnodus minutus Münster 1846
†Pycnodus mokattamensis Priem 1897
†Pycnodus munsteri Agassiz 1839
†Pycnodus nicoleti Agassiz 1839
†Pycnodus orbicularis Volta 1796
†Pycnodus ovalis Agassiz 1839
†Pycnodus parallelus Dixon 1850
†Pycnodus planidens Hay 1916
†Pycnodus praecursor Dartevelle and Casier 1949
†Pycnodus preufsii Münster 1846
†Pycnodus priscus Henry 1876
†Pycnodus robustus Leidy 1857
†Pycnodus toliapicus Agassiz 1839
†Pycnodus umbonatus Agassiz 1833
†Pycnodus variabilis Stromer 1905
G. †Scalacurvichthys Cawley and Kriwet 2018
+
†Scalacurvichthys naishi Cawley and Kriwet 2018
G. †Tepexichthys Applegate 1992
+
†Tepexichthys aranguthyorum Applegate 1992
G. †Pycnomicrodon Hay 1916
+
†Pycnomicrodon texanus Gidley 1913
G. †Rhinopycnodus Taverne and Capasso 2013
+
†Rhinopycnodus gabriellae Taverne and Capasso 2013
G. †Stemmatodus Haeckel 1854
+
†Stemmatodus rhombus Agassiz 1839
G. †Stenamara Poyato-Ariza and Wenz 2000
+
†Stenamara mia Poyato-Ariza and Wenz 2000
G. †Xenopholis Davis 1887
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
R. Nursall 2010Pycnodontiform fishes distinguished by the presence of a pair of parietal peniculi (brush-like extensions of the parietal bones) for the attachment of anterior, epaxial trunk musculature. Squamation incomplete in most species; snout, cheek and gular region naked, or bearing only a few, scattered, vestigial scales on the cheek of some immature specimens.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinesubp
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: planktonicp
Diet: suspension feederp
Created: 2009-07-20 21:50:54
Modified: 2009-07-20 23:50:54
Source: c = class, subp = subphylum, p = phylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988, Kiessling 2004, Bambach et al. 2007

Age range: base of the Late/Upper Bathonian to the top of the Late/Upper Pleistocene or 168.20000 to 0.01170 Ma

Collections (361 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Bathonian168.2 - 165.3France Pycnodus rugulosus (131997)
Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom Mesodon discoides (131999) Pycnodus rugulosus (131998) Pycnodus sp., Pycnodus rugulosus, Pycnodus bucklandi, Mesodon tenuidens, Mesodon biserialis (131844)
Early/Lower Bathonian168.2 - 165.3France (Midi-Pyrénées) Macromesodon sp., Coelodus sp. (61377)
Early/Lower Bathonian168.2 - 165.3France Macromesodon sp. (61378)
Early/Lower Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom (England) Pycnodontidae indet. (31054)
Late/Upper Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom Pycnodus bucklandi (131848)
Late/Upper Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom (England) Coelodus sp. (224639)
Middle Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom (England) Pycnodontidae indet. (57140)
Oxfordian161.5 - 154.8Portugal (Porto de Mos) Pycnodontidae indet. (196756)
Middle Oxfordian159.0 - 157.9Portugal (Leiria) Proscinetes sp. (69698)

Youngest occurrences
Time interval Ma Country or state PBDB collection number
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03India (Jammu and Kashmir) Pycnodus bicresta (31299)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03United Kingdom (England) Pycnodus sp. (41888) Pycnodus toliapicus (41989 41998)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03Qatar Pycnodus sp. (277933) Pycnodus toliapicus, Pycnodus mokattamensis, Pycnodus mokattamensis (277931)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03USA (Alabama) Pycnodus sp. (209368 209521)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03Ukraine Pycnodus sp. (211009)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03Spain Pycnodus sp. (276612)
Bartonian41.03 - 37.71India (Gujarat) Pycnodus sp. (45590)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Egypt Pycnodus mokattamensis (198761)
Pleistocene2.58 - 0.0117USA (Florida) Mesodon thyroides (227391 227395)
Late/Upper Pleistocene (high glacial)0.129 - 0.0117USA (Texas) Mesodon thyroidea (93103)