Bonnerichthys
| Bonnerichthys | |
|---|---|
| |
| Restoration | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | †Pachycormiformes |
| Family: | †Pachycormidae |
| Genus: | †Bonnerichthys Friedman et al., 2010 |
| Species: | †B. gladius
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Bonnerichthys gladius (Cope, 1873)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Bonnerichthys is a genus of
Niobrara Chalk Formation of Kansas (Late Coniacian-Early Campanian), and additional material was later reported from the Pierre Shale, Mooreville Chalk, Demopolis Chalk, Wenonah Formation, and Moreno Formation, among other localities.[2] It grew to at least 5 metres (16 ft) in total body length,[1] substantially less than the related Leedsichthys from the Jurassic which likely grew up to 16.5 metres (54 ft).[3]
Feeding
One of the most significant features of Bonnerichthys is the recognition that it was a
Pachycormidae were filter feeders shows that this niche was filled for at least 100 million years before previously known. The modern niche is filled by several species of sharks and the baleen whales
.
The international team that described the genus named it after the Marion Charles Bonner fossil hunting family,[4] whose collections from the Niobrara Cretaceous chalk of western Kansas are in many museums and research institutions.
References
- ^ S2CID 206524637.
- S2CID 128958842.
- ISBN 9783899371598.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link - ^ "The Big Fish that Ate Small". 15 May 2014.
External links
- Bonnerichthys at the Oceans of Kansas website. Includes detailed taxonomic history, life restorations, bibliography, many photos of fossil remains.
- Bonnerichthys discussion at boneblogger.com