LINKS TO ALL FISH:

 

Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons) 

Pycnodontiformes

Amiiformes (Bowfins)

  • Lehmanamia sheppeyensis

Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)

Albuliformes (Bonefishes)

Anguilliformes (Eels)

Elopiformes (Tarpon / Tenpounders)

Siluriformes (Catfish)

Gonorynchiformes (Milk fish)

Aulopiformes (Grinners & Lizardfish)

Gadiformes (Cod & Hake)

Holocentriformes (Soldier fish)

  • Myripristis toliapicus
  • Naupygus bucklandi
  • Paraberyx bowerbanki

Ophidiiformes (Cusk-eels)

Scombriformes (Mackerel & Tuna)

Gempylidae (Snake Mackerels)

Carangiformes (Jack Mackerels)

Istiophoriformes (Billfish)

Labriformes (Wrasses)

Perciformes (Perch-like)

Pleuronectiformes (Flatfish)

Acanthuriformes (Luvar fish)

  • Beerichthys ingens
  • Beerichthys sp.

Ephippiformes (Spadefishes)

Lampriformes (Opahs/Oarfish)

Spariformes (Sea Bream)

Ampheristus toliapicus

Scientific Classification

Class:               Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)

Order:              Ophidiiformes (Cusk-eels)

Family:             Ophididae

Genus:             Ampheristus 

Species:          toliapicus (Konig 1825)

Ampheristus toliapicus is a fascinating and rare fish from the London Clay and reflects the only ‘cusk-eel’ described.

 

The top of the skull is very distinctive versus other fish from the London clay – most notably for the presence of an enormous supraoccipital crest at the rear of the skull. The mouth opening is incredibly wide and many fossils have been found preserved with the jaws wide open. On the specimens I’ve examined, I’ve seen no evidence of teeth.

 

This image shows an extant Brotula cusk-eel, a modern relative to Ampheristus.

Brotula barbata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Observed in Cabo Verde by Sylvain Le Bris (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)

Distinguishing Characteristics:
  • No sclerotic ossicle in eye orbit (1)
  • Enormously large supraoccipital crest (2)
Primary Example: Fred Clouter SH301
3D Scan: Fred Clouter SH301

3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission. 

Micro-CT Scan: Fred Clouter SH301

3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission. 

Additional Example: Fred Clouter Specimen 2
3D Scan: Fred Clouter Specimen 2

3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission. 

Additional example: NHMUK PV P 4920
References
  • 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