Cavenderichthys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CavenderichthysTemporal range: Upper Jurassic
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Orthogonikleithridae
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Cavenderichthys
Arratia, 1997
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C. talbragarensis
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| Cavenderichthys talbragarensis (Woodward, 1895)
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Cavenderichthys talbragarensis is a type of ancient bony fish. It lived a very long time ago, during the Upper Jurassic period. This was about 163 to 145 million years ago! Scientists know about this fish because its fossils were found in a special place.
The fossils of Cavenderichthys talbragarensis were discovered in the Talbragar Fish beds. This important fossil site is located in Australia. It is famous for preserving many different kinds of ancient fish.
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What is Cavenderichthys?
Cavenderichthys talbragarensis is a species within the Cavenderichthys genus. A genus is a group of very similar animals. This fish belongs to a larger group called Orthogonikleithridae. This group includes other ancient fish like Leptolepides, Orthogonikleithrus, and Waldmanichthys.
Bony Fish from the Jurassic Period
Cavenderichthys was a teleost fish. Teleosts are the most common type of bony fish today. This means Cavenderichthys had a skeleton made of bone, not cartilage like sharks. Finding its fossils helps scientists learn about how bony fish evolved. It shows us what some of the earliest teleost fish looked like.
Where it Lived
The Talbragar fossil site is in New South Wales, Australia. This area was once a freshwater lake. The lake was surrounded by volcanoes. When the volcanoes erupted, fine ash fell into the lake. This ash helped to quickly bury and preserve the fish. This is why the fossils are so well-preserved.
Life in the Ancient Lake
The lake where Cavenderichthys lived was home to many creatures. Besides Cavenderichthys, other fish species have been found there. There were also insects, plants, and even some small dinosaurs nearby. Studying these fossils helps us imagine what life was like millions of years ago. It shows us the ancient environment of Australia.
How Scientists Study Cavenderichthys
Scientists called paleontologists study fossils. They carefully dig up the fossils from the Talbragar site. Then, they clean and examine them. By looking at the bones and scales, they can learn about the fish's size and shape. They can also figure out what it might have eaten. Comparing Cavenderichthys to modern fish helps us understand its place in the fish family tree.
