Progempylus edwardsi

Progempylus edwardsi is a London Clay fish species known from only 2 specimens – The holotype in the collection of the NHM and a second specimen found recently by local collectors. It’s a representative of the Gempylidae family containing Snake Mackerel and Escolars.

This deep-sea predatory fish has a very elongated, slender skull with sharp, backward-facing teeth which is very representative of this group.

The illustration, from George Cuvier’s ‘Histoire naturelle des poissons’ (1828-1849) and represents a modern Escolar similar to what Progempylus might have looked like.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

No evidence of sclerotic ossicle in orbit on holotype (1)
Sharp, long posterior-facing teeth (2)
Long, flat frontal bones on top of cranium (3)

Primary Example: HOLOTYPE NHMUK PV OR 32388

3D Scan - Primary Example HOLOTYPE NHMUK PV OR 32388

3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission. From the collections of the Natural History Museum, London

CT Scan - Primary Example HOLOTYPE NHMUK PV OR 32388

CT scans kindly provided by the Natural History Museum, London and used with permission.

Secondary Example - Found by Dan Hogburn (Skull) and Jack Charles Smith (Flank)

References

Beckett, H et al. (2018) Morphology and phylogenetic relationships of fossil snake mackerels and cutlassfishes (Trichiuroidea) from the Eocene (Ypresian) London Clay Formation
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