Species
Aspidorhynchus acutirostris
Aspidorhynchus acutirostrisAspidorhynchus acutirostris was a slender, torpedo-shaped predatory fish that prowled the warm, shallow seas and lagoons of Late Jurassic Europe. Equipped with heavy ganoid scales, a symmetrical tail fin, and an elongated upper jaw forming a sharp rostrum, it darted forward with sudden bursts of speed to ambush smaller aquatic prey. Famous fossil specimens from the Solnhofen Limestone reveal that it occasionally snared low-flying pterosaurs such as Rhamphorhynchus, dragging both predator and prey to the anoxic seafloor.
FossilPredatory
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyLeptolepides sprattiformis, Belemnites, Small crustaceans
Predators
- Pliosaurs
- Metriorhynchid crocodylomorphs
- Hybodont sharks
ThreatsNatural ecological changes during the Mesozoic extinction intervals
HabitatsWarm shallow epicontinental seas and coastal lagoons
Life spanEstimated 5–15 years
Classification
- FamilyAspidorhynchidae
- SpeciesAspidorhynchus acutirostris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
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- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known only from fossil remains.
Responsible observation
- Museum Viewing: Examine articulated Solnhofen fossils to observe the needle-like rostrum and dense ganoid scales.
- Fossil Identification: Look for the characteristic overhanging upper jaw, which easily distinguishes it from other Jurassic ray-finned fish.
Image unavailablePrey Interaction Competitor Same Family
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