Oropycnodus, Poyato-Ariza F. J. & Wenz S., 2002

Poyato-Ariza F. J. & Wenz S., 2002, A new insight into pycnodontiform fishes, Geodiversitas 24 (1), pp. 139-248 : 222

Genus Oropycnodus n. gen.

Palaeobalistum – Heckel 1856: 236, pl. 11, figs 1-15.

Coelodus – Blot 1987: 146, 147.

TYPE SPECIES. — Palaeobalistum ponsortii Heckel, 1854 . INCLUDED SPECIES. — Monotypic genus.

ETYMOLOGY. — From the Greek substantive “Oρo, oρεoς”, “Oro, oreos”: mountain, in reference to Mont Aimé, the type and only locality; and “ Pycnodus ”: the genus it is sister-group to.

DIAGNOSIS. — Pycnodontine fish with the following autapomorphies: opercular bone extremely reduced, almost bar-like; cloaca with bifid scale plus several comma-shaped scales; post-cloacal notch present. Unique combination of derived characters: body discoid, maximum body height about 70-80% of standard length in adult specimens; dorsal apex placed at the point of insertion of the dorsal fin; ventral apex present before the point of insertion of the anal fin; caudal pedicle not differentiated; all infraorbitals tubular; vomerine teeth oval in contour; seven or less teeth on main vomerine tooth row; seven or less teeth on main prearticular tooth row; crenulations on vomerine and prearticular teeth occasionally present, weak; last neural spine not supporting caudal fin rays reduced; dorsal fin insertion at 50-59% of standard length; 60 or more dorsal axonosts; dorsal and anal fins rounded anteriorly; anal fin insertion at 60-69% of standard length; 50 or more anal axonosts; one urodermal present; four to six spines on ventral keel scales; spines on each ventral keel scale in contact with each other; two post-cloacal ventral keel scales; two anterior modified cloacal scales.