Pycnodus Agassiz, 1833

Poyato-Ariza F. J. & Wenz S., 2002, A new insight into pycnodontiform fishes, Geodiversitas 24 (1), pp. 139-248 : 222

Genus Pycnodus Agassiz, 1833

TYPE SPECIES. — Coryphaena apoda Volta, 1809 .

INCLUDED SPECIES. — The type species; plus numerous nominal species based on isolated dentitions.

TYPE HORIZON. — Early to middle Eocene.

TYPE LOCALITY. — Monte Bolca, Italy.

REVISED DIAGNOSIS. — Pycnodontine fish with the following unique combination of primitive and derived characters: body shape ovoid, maximum body height about 50-60% of standard length in adult specimens; dorsal apex placed before the point of insertion of the dorsal fin; ventral apex absent; caudal pedicle differentiated, well developed; extrascapular not fused to parietal; anterior infraorbital enlarged; vomerine teeth circular to subcircular in contour; eight or nine teeth on main vomerine tooth row; 10 or more teeth on main prearticular tooth row; crenulations on vomerine and prearticular teeth absent; last neural spine not supporting caudal fin rays vestigial; dorsal fin insertion at 40-49% of standard length; 50 to 59 dorsal axonosts; dorsal and anal fins strip-like to slightly acuminate; anal fin insertion at 50-59% of standard length; 40 to 49 anal axonosts; urodermals absent; seven or more spines on ventral keel scales; spines on each ventral keel scale separated from each other; one anterior modified cloacal scale; one post-cloacal ventral keel scale; cloaca with bifid scale and without comma-shaped scales; post-cloacal notch absent.