Abdobalistum, Poyato-Ariza F. J. & Wenz S., 2002

Poyato-Ariza F. J. & Wenz S., 2002, A new insight into pycnodontiform fishes, Geodiversitas 24 (1), pp. 139-248 : 223

Genus Abdobalistum n. gen.

Palaeobalistum – Heckel 1856 pro parte: 204, 205, 229-233, pl. 1, fig. 11a-b, pl. 10.

TYPE SPECIES. — Abdobalistum thyrsus n. gen., n. sp.

INCLUDED SPECIES. — Monotypic genus.

ETYMOLOGY. — From the Latin adjective “Abdo, - itus”: put away, removed, exiled; and the last part of its former genus “ Palaeobalistum ”.

DIAGNOSIS. — Nursalliine fish with the following autapomorphies: scutellum-like contour scales present, ventral only; several reduced scales attached to most dorsal and ventral contour scales. Unique combination of reverted primitive and derived characters: body shape rounded, maximum body height about 85% of standard length; dorsal apex placed before the point of insertion of the dorsal fin; caudal pedicle not differentiated; crenulations on vomerine and prearticular teeth occasionally present, weak; grooves on vomerine and prearticular teeth present; 35 or more vertebrae; neural and haemal arcocentra surrounding notochord partially; dorsal and ventral adjacent arcocentra in complex contact; dorsal and anal fin strip-like; urodermals absent; caudal fin about twice higher than long, with distal border convex; all body scales incompletely ossified, reduced to bar scales; 15 to 17 dorsal ridge scales, in close contact with each other; 15 to 17 ventral keel scales.