# Sparnodus

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Extinct genus of fishes

Sparnodus Temporal range: Cenozoic PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Sparnodus vulgaris Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acanthuriformes Family: Sparidae Genus: †Sparnodus Agassiz, 1839 Species[1] See text

***Sparnodus*** is an extinct genus of prehistoric [perciform](/source/Perciform) fish in the family [Sparidae](/source/Sparidae). Species of this genus were nektonic carnivores. These fishes lived in the [Cenozoic](/source/Cenozoic) Era, in the [Oligocene](/source/Oligocene) and [Paleocene](/source/Paleocene) (55.8 to 23.03 Ma).[2]

## Species

- †*Sparnodus altivelis*
- †*Sparnodus elongatus*
- †*Sparnodus macrophthalmus*
- †*Sparnodus micracanthus*
- †*Sparnodus ovalis*
- †*Sparnodus vulgaris*

## Description

These medium-sized fishes usually could reach a length of 30 centimetres (12 in). They had a laterally compressed body, quite gibbous in the forepart, with a single dorsal fin, well developed and supported by strong spines. The anal fin was about half the length of the caudal one and was also equipped with spiny rays. Also the pectoral fins were long and well developed. The body was covered with large finely wrinkled scales. The mouth was small and had strong conical teeth. They had no [palatal teeth](/source/Palatal_teeth) nor protracted jaws.[3]

		- Fossil of *Sparnodus elongatus* from [Monte Bolca](/source/Monte_Bolca)

		- Fossil of *Sparnodus macrophthalmus* from [Monte Bolca](/source/Monte_Bolca)

		- Fossil of *Sparnodus micracanthus*

## Bibliography

- Bannikov, A. 2006. Fishes from the Eocene of Bolca, northern Italy, previously classified in the Sparidae, Serranidae and Haemulidae (Perciformes). Geodiversitas, vol. 28, no2, pp. 249–275.

- Day J. J. 2002. Phylogenetic relationships of the Sparidae (Teleostei: Percoidei) and implications for convergent trophic evolution. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 76: 269–301

- Day J. J. 2003. Evolutionary relationships of the Sparidae (Teleostei: Percoidei): integrating fossil and Recent data. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences 93: 333–353

- L. Agassiz. 1839. Recherches Sur Les Poissons Fossiles. Tome IV (livr. 13). Imprimerie de Petitpierre, Neuchatel 109–204

## See also

- [Paleontology portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Paleontology)
- [Fish portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Fish)

- [Prehistoric fish](/source/Prehistoric_fish)

- [List of prehistoric bony fish](/source/List_of_prehistoric_bony_fish)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["*Sparnodus*"](https://paleobiodb.org/classic/basicTaxonInfo?taxon_no=36200). *[Paleobiology Database](/source/Paleobiology_Database)*. Retrieved 8 February 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Sepkoski Database](http://strata.geology.wisc.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Geology, Introductory, Descriptive and Practical, Volume 2](https://books.google.com/books?id=Igg-AAAAcAAJ&dq=Sparnodus+length&pg=PA73)

## External links

- Alexandre F. Bannikov - [Fishes from the Eocene of Bolca, northern Italy, previously classified in the Sparidae, Serranidae and Haemulidae (Perciformes)](https://web.archive.org/web/20061202132421/http://www.mnhn.fr/museum/front/medias/publication/8116_g06n2a5.pdf)

- [The "Pesciara di Bolca" and the "Monte Postale"](http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/museum-en/paleontological-collections/protection-and-conservation/the-pesciara-di-bolca-and-the-monte-postale)

Taxon identifiers Sparnodus Wikidata: Q7573738 EoL: 24089167 GBIF: 4841057 IRMNG: 1322589 Open Tree of Life: 3634747 Paleobiology Database: 36200

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sparnodus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparnodus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparnodus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.