Belonostomus
Belonostomus is an extinct genus of prehistoric ray-finned fish in the order Aspidorhynchiformes. Fossils have been found in marine areas, although some species are known from freshwater habitats.
| Belonostomus Temporal range: Possible Paleocene record
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| Specimen of B. kochi, Jura Museum | |
Scientific classification 
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| Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Aspidorhynchidae |
| Genus: | Belonostomus Agassiz, 1834 |
| Type species | |
| †Aspidorhynchus tenuirostris Agassiz, 1833
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| Species | |
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30+, see text | |
| Synonyms | |
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Diphyodus | |
Usually, it fed on plankton or other tiny fish, but one fossil was found devouring a Homoeosaurus as stomach contents.
Description
Belonostomus, like all aspidorhyncheans, has a pointy rostrum. However, it is thinner compared to other genera like the almost identical Aspidorhynchus. It possesses a long body.
Gallery
References
- Bryant, Laurie J. (1987). "Belonostomus (Teleostei: Aspidorhynchidae) from the Late Paleocene of North Dakota" (PDF). PaleoBios. Museum of Paleontology, University of California Berkeley.