Mene rhombea, moonfish Carnataurus suffocating the pheasant chick

suffocating the pheasant chick

It is otherwise a very rare complete specimen

This specimen was found in the Cretaceous

which suggests that it is a significant transitional form

There are currently 19 recognized subspecies

Mene rhombea, moonfish Carnataurus suffocating the pheasant chickMene rhombea was a perciform fish belonging to the family Menidae (moonfish). During the Middle Eocene about 48 to 40 mya, these fishes lived in the Tethys Ocean, a large tropical sea in the area corresponding to the current Mediterranean. This ocean was extended between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia. Mene rhombea had a laterally compressed body, very long and slim pelvic fins and a wide triangular tail fin. As suggested by their fossils'