Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)
Elopiformes (Tarpon / Tenpounders)
- Elops sp.
- Esocelops cavifrons
- Protarpon (Megalops) oblongus
- Protarpon (Megalops) priscus
- Promegalops sheppeyensis
- Promegalops signeuxae
Aulopiformes (Grinners & Lizardfish)
Beryciformes (Soldier/Pricklefish)
Scombriformes (Mackerel & Tuna)
- Eocoelopoma colei
- Eocoelopoma curvatum
- Eocoelopoma gigas
- Micrornatus hopwoodi
- Scombramphodon crassidens
- Scombramphodon sheppeyensis
- Duplexdens (Scombrinus) macropomus
- Scombrinus nuchalis
- Sphyraenodus priscus
- Tamesichthys decipiens
- Wetherellus brevior
- Wetherellus cristatus
- Wetherellus longior
- Woodwardella patellifrons
- Palaeocybium proosti
- Bramoides brieni
- Goniocranion arambourgi
- Undescribed Scombrid #1
- Undescribed Scombrid #2
Carangiformes (Jack Mackerels)
- Enniskillenus radiatus
- Cylindracanthus rectus
- Hemirhabdorhynchus elliotti
- Acestrus elongatus
- Acestrus ornatus
- Aglyptorhynchus sulcatus
- Aglyptorhynchus venablesi
- Xiphiorhynchus priscus
Protarpon (Megalops) priscus
Scientific Classification
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)
Order: Elopiformes
Family: Elopidae
Genus: Protarpon (Megalops)
Species: priscus (Casier 1966)
Protarpon priscus is a distinctive, early-Tarpon from the London Clay due to it’s large, diverging pronounced ridges on the top of the skull.
The holotype within the collections of the NHM, London is a superb specimen showcasing a complete skull in 3D from what would have been an enormous fish.
The illustration represents a modern member of the Megalops family – that of the Pacific Tarpon. This is taken from Bloch’s ‘Oeconmische Naturgesthichte der Fische Deutschlands’ from 1785.
- Large operculum (1)
- Diverging raised ridges on top of cranium (2)
Casier, E. (1966) Fauna ichthyologique du London Clay. British Museum Natural History London, 1966, 1-496
Monsch, K (2005) Revision of the scombroid fishes from the Cenozoic of England
Raynor, Mitchell, Clouter (2009) London Clay Fossils of Kent and Essex