Mesomyzon

Mesomyzon; Temporal range: Early Cretaceous PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Barremian–Aptian
	Life reconstruction of Mesomyzon mengae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Hyperoartia
Order:	Petromyzontiformes
Genus:	Mesomyzon; Chang, Zhang & Miao 2006
Type species
	Mesomyzon mengae; Chang, Zhang & Miao 2006

Mesomyzon mengae is an extinct lamprey from freshwater strata of the Early Cretaceous-aged Yixian Formation, in China. So far, M. mengae is the only lamprey, and by default, the only agnathan known from post-Paleozoic fossils.[1]

The animal's exquisitely preserved fossils show a creature very similar to modern-day lampreys, having a well-developed sucking oral disk, a branchial basket, at least seven pairs of gill pouches and corresponding gill arches, impressions of gill filaments, and at least 80 myomeres of its musculature.[1]

References

Chang, M. M.; Zhang, J.; Miao, D. (2006). "A lamprey from the Cretaceous Jehol biota of China". Nature. 441 (7096): 972–974. doi:10.1038/nature04730. PMID 16791193.

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[chang-1] Chang, M. M.; Zhang, J.; Miao, D. (2006). "A lamprey from the Cretaceous Jehol biota of China". Nature. 441 (7096): 972–974. doi:10.1038/nature04730. PMID 16791193.