Megalampris keyesi

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Osteichthyes
Classis: Actinopterygii
Subclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Superordo: Lampridiomorpha
Ordo: Lampridiformes
Familia: Lamprididae
Genus: Megalampris

Megalampris keyesi is an extinct Opah from the late Oligocene of New Zealand about 26 million years ago. It was recovered from the Otekaike Limestone in North Otago, by a team from the University of Otago. Its spectacular remains, mostly caudal skeleton, are on display in the Otago Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand. Comparison with the skeleton of living Lampris species suggest that it was around 4 meters in length.

References

1. ^ GOTTFRIED, MICHAEL D., FORDYCE, R. EWAN, RUST, SEABOURNE. (2006). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. "MEGALAMPRIS KEYESI, A GIANT MOONFISH (TELEOSTEI, LAMPRIDIFORMES) FROM THE LATE OLIGOCENE OF NEW ZEALAND" Article: pp. 544–551 [1]

Sources

* MEGALAMPRIS KEYESI, A GIANT MOONFISH (TELEOSTEI, LAMPRIDIFORMES) FROM THE LATE OLIGOCENE OF NEW ZEALAND