Amphistium

Amphistium paradoxum, the only species classified under the genus Amphistium, is a fossil fish which has been identified as a Paleogene relative of the flatfish, and as a transitional fossil.[1] In a typical modern flatfish, the head is asymmetric with both eyes on one side of the head. In Amphistium, the transition from the typical symmetric head of a vertebrate is incomplete, with one eye placed near the top of the head.[2]

Amphistium
Temporal range: Middle Eocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Genus: †Amphistium
Agassiz, 1835
Species:
†A. paradoxum
Binomial name
†Amphistium paradoxum
Agassiz, 1835

Amphistium is among the many fossil fish species known from the Monte Bolca Lagerstätte of Lutetian Italy. Heteronectes is a related, and very similar fossil from a slightly earlier strata of France.

References
  1. "Odd Fish Find Contradicts Intelligent-Design Argument". National Geographic. July 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  2. Matt Friedman (2008-07-10). "The evolutionary origin of flatfish asymmetry". Nature. 454 (7201): 209–212. doi:10.1038/nature07108. PMID 18615083.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.