Bonnerichthys

Bonnerichthys is a genus of fossil fishes within the family Pachycormidae that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period [1] Fossil remains of this taxon were first described from the Smoky Hill Member of the Niobrara Chalk Formation of Kansas (Late Coniacian-Early Campanian, about 87-81 million years ago), and additional material was later reported from the Pierre Shale, Mooreville Chalk, Demopolis Chalk, Wenonah Formation, and Moreno Formation, among other localities.[2] It grew to around 20 feet in length, though not quite as large as the related Leedsichthys from the Jurassic of Europe which likely grew up to 56 feet.[3]

Bonnerichthys
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 87–66 Ma
Restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: †Pachycormiformes
Family: †Pachycormidae
Genus: †Bonnerichthys
Friedman et al., 2010
Species:
†B. gladius
Binomial name
†Bonnerichthys gladius
(Cope, 1873)
Synonyms

Feeding

One of the most significant features of Bonnerichthys is the recognition that it was a filter feeder, living on plankton. This recognition that many large-bodied fish from the Mesozoic in the Pachycormidae were filter feeders shows that this niche was filled for at least 100 million years before previously known. The modern niche is filled by several species of sharks and the baleen whales.

References
  1. FRIEDMAN, M., K. SHIMADA, L. MARTIN, M. J. EVERHART, J. LISTON, A. MALTESE, AND M. TRIEBOLD. 2010. 100-million-year dynasty of giant planktivorous bony fishes in the Mesozoic seas. Science, 327:990-993.
  2. Friedman, Matt; Shimada, Kenshu; Everhart, Michael J.; Irwin, Kelly J.; Grandstaff, Barbara S.; Stewart, J. D. (8 January 2013). "Geographic and stratigraphic distribution of the Late Cretaceous suspension-feeding bony fish Bonnerichthys gladius (Teleostei, Pachycormiformes)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 33 (1). doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.713059.
  3. Viegas, Jennifer (18 February 2010), SUV-Sized Fish Were Earliest Filter-Feeders, Discovery News, retrieved 1 April 2010
  • Bonnerichthys at the Oceans of Kansas website. Includes detailed taxonomic history, life restorations, bibliography, many photos of fossil remains.
  • Bonnerichthys discussion at boneblogger.com
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