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Monosmilus

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Extinct genus of fishes

Monosmilus
Temporal range: Lutetian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Life restoration
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Clupeiformes
Superfamily: Engrauloidea
Genus: †Monosmilus
Capobianco et al, 2020
Species: †M. chureloides
Binomial name
†Monosmilus chureloides
Capobianco et al, 2020

Monosmilus is an extinct genus of prehistoric anchovy relative. It contains a single species, M. chureloides from the Middle Eocene (Lutetian)-aged Domanda Formation of Punjab, Pakistan.

Monosmilus was a large, predatory stem group-anchovy that may have reached up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length. Its most distinctive feature was a single, massive fang projecting downwards from vomerine region of the upper jaw. The genus name "Monosmilus" means "single knife" in Ancient Greek, referencing this fang, while the specific epithet "chureloides" references the Churel, a fanged, shapeshifting demon of Pakistani folklore.

The closest relative of Monosmilus is Clupeopsis, another stem-anchovy known from the earlier Eocene of Belgium, which had a similar "saber tooth"; no other fish, extant or extinct, is known to have a similar dentition to these two genera. Monosmilus and Clupeopsis together comprise a unique clade basal to modern anchovies, which are colloquially referred to as "saber-toothed anchovies". Unlike modern anchovies, which are planktivorous, the saber-toothed anchovies likely preyed on other fish; however, due to the lack of a modern analogue, the function of the saber tooth during feeding is uncertain. The saber-toothed anchovies were part of a wider radiation of predatory marine fish during the early Paleogene, in the aftermath of empty ecological niches remaining from the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. However, despite their unique adaptations, they went extinct shortly afterwards.

References

  1. "PBDB Taxon". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  2. ^ Capobianco, Alessio; Beckett, Hermione T.; Steurbaut, Etienne; Gingerich, Philip D.; Carnevale, Giorgio; Friedman, Matt (2020). "Large-bodied sabre-toothed anchovies reveal unanticipated ecological diversity in early Palaeogene teleosts". Royal Society Open Science. 7 (5): 192260. doi:10.1098/rsos.192260. ISSN 2054-5703. PMC 7277248. PMID 32537214.
  3. ^ "Meter-long saber-toothed anchovies roamed the seas around 50 million years ago". lsa.umich.edu. 2020. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  4. ^ Yirka, Bob; Phys.org. "Prehistoric anchovy-like fish had large fangs and a saber tooth". phys.org. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  5. Geggel, Laura (2020-05-13). "Ancient 'shapeshifting vampire demon' anchovy had saber tooth and fangs". livescience.com. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  6. McGreevy, Nora. "Saber-Toothed Anchovies Swam in the Oceans Millions of Years Ago". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
Taxon identifiers
Monosmilus
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