Pseudotetrapturus

Pseudotetrapturus
Temporal range:
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Suborder: Menoidei
Superfamily: Xiphioidea
Family: Palaeorhynchidae
Genus: Pseudotetrapturus
Danilʹchenko, 1960
Species
  • †P. luteus Danilʹchenko, 1960

Pseudotetrapturus is an extinct genus of early billfish from the Oligocene of the Caucasus. The fish is much larger than other members of the family, having a body length estimated to be 4.0 metres (13.1 ft) and a body shape more similar to that of marlins than of other members of its family. Unlike modern genera, these fish would have had jaws of similar lengths with small teeth along with large scales when an adult. Pseudotetrapturus, along with the other organisms found at the sites, would have been endemic to a marginal sea associated with the Paratethys. There is only one species currently recognized being P. luteus.