TaxonHub
Saint John & Worthen's Chimaera

Saint John & Worthen's Chimaera

Deltoptychius primus

A rare extinct prehistoric chimaera species from the late Carboniferous period, belonging to the holocephalan class of cartilaginous fish with unique dental and skeletal characteristics.

ADSENSE SLOT

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Prehistoric marine environments of North America, likely deep continental shelf and slope ecosystems during the late Paleozoic era

Ecological Role

Represented an important component of marine predatory fauna, contributing to ecosystem complexity and food web dynamics in Carboniferous marine environments

Morphology

  • SKIN COAT Smooth cartilaginous dermal covering characteristic of holocephalan fish
  • LIMBS WINGS Pectoral fins adapted for efficient marine locomotion and predatory maneuvers
  • HEAD SENSORY Likely advanced sensory capabilities with specialized cranial structures for detecting marine prey
  • BODY STRUCTURE Compact cartilaginous body typical of early chimaeras, approximately 0.3-0.5 meters in estimated length
Data Source: TaxonHub Database
Image Credit: Smithsonian Institution, NMNH, Paleobiology
ADSENSE VERTICAL

Related Species in Squalorajidae