Amiiformes (Bowfins)
- Lehmanamia sheppeyensis
Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)
- Rhynchorhinus branchialis
- Rhynchorhinus major
Elopiformes (Tarpon / Tenpounders)
- Elops sp.
- Esocelops cavifrons
- Protarpon (Megalops) oblongus
- Protarpon (Megalops) priscus
- Promegalops sheppeyensis
- Promegalops signeuxae
- Bucklandium diluvii
- Undescribed catfish
Aulopiformes (Grinners & Lizardfish)
Holocentriformes (Soldier fish)
- Myripristis toliapicus
- Naupygus bucklandi
- Paraberyx bowerbanki
Scombriformes (Mackerel & Tuna)
- Enniskillenus radiatus
- Bramoides brieni
- Goniocranion arambourgi
- 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
- Undescribed Scombrid #1
- Undescribed Scombrid #2
- Progempylus edwardsi
- Eutrichurides winkleri
- Gempylid Incertae sedis
- Undescribed Gempylid #1
- Trichurides sagittidens
Carangiformes (Jack Mackerels)
- Cylindracanthus rectus
- Hemirhabdorhynchus elliotti
- Acestrus elongatus
- Acestrus ornatus
- Aglyptorhynchus sulcatus
- Aglyptorhynchus venablesi
- Xiphiorhynchus priscus
- Percostoma angustum
- Plesioserranus wemmeliensis
- Serranopsis londinensis
- Undescribed Serranid #1
- Undescribed Serranid #2
Acanthuriformes (Luvar fish)
- Beerichthys ingens
- Beerichthys sp.
Eocoelopoma curvatum
Scientific Classification
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)
Order: Scombriformes
Family: Scombridae
Genus: Eocoelopoma
Species: curvatum (Woodward 1901)
Eocoelopoma curvatum belongs to the Scombridae family of fish which include Tuna, Mackerel and Bonitos. This group is characterised for it’s streamlined body forms, and retractable fins, making them capable of generating incredible speed through the water – essential for their open-ocean predatory living.
Eocoelopoma curvatum is a fairly common fish to find in the London Clay. It has robust, conical teeth at regular intervals on both upper and lower jaws. One of the key differentiating factors is the dense ornamentation on the frontal bones on the top of the skull which are very distinctive.
- Large sclerotic ossicle present in eye orbit (1)
- Robust, sharp, conical teeth (2)
- Clear ornamentation on top of cranium (3)
3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission. From the collections of the Natural History Museum, London
3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission.
CT scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission.
CT Scans undertaken the Natural History Museum, London and provide to Tom Sermon with permission. NHMUK PV P 9456a is labelled as Scombrinus nuchalis (Paratype) however Monsch (2005) reassigned this to Eocoelopoma curvatum.
CT Scans undertaken the Natural History Museum, London and provide to Tom Sermon with permission.
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