What is Pachycormus (fish)?
''For other uses, see [[Pachycormus]]. For the species of [[plant]], see [[Pachycormus discolor]].'' [[File:Illustration of Pachycormus macropterus.jpg|thumb|''Pachycormus macropterus'' reconstruction]] '''''Pachycormus''''' is an extinct genus of [[Pachycormiformes|pachycormiform]] from the [[Toarcian]] (about 185–182 million years ago) of [[Europe]]. This [[fish]] had no [[Pelvic fin|pelvic fins]]. == Description == ''Pachycormus'' superficially resembled a giant [[tuna]]. It was able to grow 1 m (3.5 ft) in length. It is characterized by falciform [[Pectoral fin|pectoral fins]]. The teeth are short and designed for grasping. The [[caudal fin]] was deeply forked, just like a modern-day [[tuna]]. The body was covered with small scales equipped with [[ganoine]]. == Classification == The type species ''P. macropterus'' was first named as a species of ''[[Elopidae|Elops]]'' by [[Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville]] in 1818. However, this species was placed into ''Pachycormus'' by [[Louis Agassiz]] in 1833. == As a basal fish == ''Pachycormus'' is the second most basal [[Pachycormiformes|pachycormiform]] after ''[[Euthynotus]]''. == Distribution == Fossils have been found in marine deposits from [[France]], [[Germany]], and [[England]]. == Image gallery == [[File:Pachycormus1.jpg|center|thumb|Drawing]] [[File:Pachycormus.jpg|center|thumb|Fossil of ''[[Pachycormus bollensis]]'']] [[File:Pachycormus head.png|center|thumb|3-dimensionally preserved head and forefin of ''Pachycormus'' from the Strawberry Bank Lagerstatte, part of the [[Beacon Limestone Formation]] in Somerset, UK]] [[File:Pachycormus esocinus.JPG|center|thumb]] [[File:Pachycormus sp., Hlzmaden, Germany, Early Jurassic - Royal Ontario Museum - DSC09918.JPG|center|thumb|''Pachycormus sp.'']] [[File:Pachycormus macropterus.JPG|center|thumb|Fossil of ''[[Pachycormus macropterus]]'']] == Related pages == * [[Pleuropholis]] * [[Amblypterus]] * [[Orthocormus]] * [[Bonnerichthys]] == References == # <small>Roberts, George (1839). ''[[iarchive:anetymolog