| Amphistium | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Suborder: | Pleuronectoidei |
| Family: | †Amphistiidae Boulenger, 1902 |
| Genus: | †Amphistium Agassiz, 1835 |
| Species: | †A. paradoxum |
| Binomial name | |
| †Amphistium paradoxum Agassiz, 1835 | |
Amphistium paradoxum (fromGreek:ἀμφίamphi, 'on both sides',Greek:ιστίονistion 'sail', andGreek:παράδοξοςparadoxus 'extraordinary'),[1] the only species classified under the genusAmphistium and the familyAmphistiidae, is a fossil fish which has been identified as aPaleogene relative of theflatfish, and as atransitional fossil.[2] In a typical modern flatfish, the head is asymmetric with both eyes on one side of the head. InAmphistium, the transition from the typical symmetric head of a vertebrate is incomplete, with one eye placed near the top of the head.[3]
Amphistium is among the many fossil fish species known from theMonte BolcaLagerstätte ofYpresian Italy.Heteronectes is a related, and very similar fossil from a slightly earlier strata of France.Heteronectes is sometimes also placed in the family Amphistiidae, though other studies find it to be morebasal than any other flatfish taxon.[4][5]
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