Aeoliscus heinrichi

Aeoliscus heinrichi Heckel, 1850

    Lower Oligocene (Rupelian)

    Frauenweiler near Heidelberg

    Germany

    Length 13cm / 5 inch

    The species in the genera Aeoliscus and Centriscus belong to the family Centriscidae (Razorfishes) within the order Syngnathiformes. The name "Syngnathiformes" means "conjoined-jaws". Syngnathiformes is an order of ray-finned fishes that includes among others the pipefishes and seahorses (Syngnathidae), razorfishes (Centriscidae), trumpetfishes (Aulostomidae) and cornetfishes (Fistulariidae). Fishes of this order have elongate, narrow, bodies surrounded by a series of bony rings, and small, tubular mouths. The tubular mouth shows that these members of the Syngnathiformes fed on small Crustaceans and such, much as their modern-day relatives Seahorses and Pipefishes.

    Centriscidae (Razorfishes) have elongated, strongly compressed and blade like bodies. The head is elongate with a long and slender, tubular snout; the mouth being small and toothless. There are two short-based dorsal fins with the first dorsal-fin spine being fused with the body armor plates. The caudal fin is small, nearly at a right angle to the body axis; the pelvic fins are small, with 4 short soft rays, originating at or behind midbody.  Aeoliscus and Centriscus look very much alike however Centriscus differs from Aeoliscus by having a rigid first dorsal spine which is straight and lacking a hinge.

    The species in the genera Aeoliscus and Centriscus are found in relatively shallow tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific. Razorfish live among seaweed and swim with the body aligned vertically, to blend in with the stems.

    Kotlarczyk, J., A. Jerzmanska, E. Swidnicka, and T. Wiszniowska. 2006. A framework of ichthyofaunal ecostratigraphy of the Oligocene-early Miocene strata of the Polish outer Carpathian basin. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae 76: 1–111.

    Parin, N., N. Micklich. 1996. Fossil gasterosteiformes from the lower oligocene of Frauenweiler (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) I. New information on the morphology and systematics of the genus Aeoliscus Jordan &Starks 1902. Palaeontologische Zeitschrift, Volume 70, Numbers 3-4, 521-545.