Scheenstia
| Scheenstia | |
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| Fossil specimen of S. maximus | |
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| Lower jaw with teeth of Scheenstia sp. scale bar = 1 cm | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Clade: | Ginglymodi |
| Order: | Lepisosteiformes |
| Family: | †Lepidotidae |
| Genus: | †Scheenstia López-Arbarello & Sferco, 2011 |
| Type species | |
| Scheenstia zappi López-Arbarello & Sferco, 2011
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| Species[1] | |
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Scheenstia is an extinct genus of neopterygian ray-finned fish from the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous of Europe. Fossils have been found in both marine and freshwater environments.[2][3]
Most species of the genus were previously referred to the related genus Lepidotes, but most Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous species of that genus have since been re-classified as Scheenstia following detailed phylogenetic analysis.[1] It is a member of Lepisosteiformes meaning that its closest living relatives are gars. The teeth of Scheenstia are low and rounded, and were likely used for crushing hard shelled organisms (durophagy).[2] The teeth were replaced synchronously, undergoing a 180 degree rotation during development, unique among vertebrates.[4] It was probably a relatively slow swimmer that was capable of making fine movements in order to remove prey from the seafloor. [5] One species, the marine Scheenstia maximus from the Late Jurassic of Germany, could reach body lengths in excess of 1.5 metres (4.9 ft),[1] likely up to 2 metres (6.6 ft).[5]
The teeth of Scheenstia were historically known as toadstones, and were attributed magical and medicinal properties in Medieval Europe, with some being incorporated into jewelry, including on a crown held at Aachen Cathedral used to coronate Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor.[6]
Classification
Scheenstia is related to the genus
| Ginglymodi |
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Some studies have suggested that Scheenstia may be
