From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Deltoptychius |
| Type |
fish, chimaera |
| Length |
1 ft 6 in (45 cm) |
| Movement |
swimming |
| Age |
350-300 million years ago |
| Diet |
carnivore |
| Environment |
deep ocean floor |
| Distribution |
Ireland and Scotland |
Deltoptychius is an extinct species of cartaliginous fish belonging to the subclass Holocephali. It lived in the Carboniferous era and was the ancestor of today's chimaera's.
Although it emerged over 300 million years ago, Deltoptychius was very similar in appearance to modern-day chimaeras, possessing a long, whip-like tail and large, wing-like pectoral fins. It probably used its pectoral fins to glide through the water. Deltoptychius`s large eyes allowed it to hunt in deep waters, crushing crustaceans between tooth plates in its mouth.
