Colobodus is an extinct genus of marine Triassic ray-finned fish of the family Colobodontidae and order Perleidiformes. Fossils have been found in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland) and China, encompassing the former Tethys Ocean. It could reach body lengths of about 70 cm (2 ft 4 in).

The original type species was Colobodus hogardi Agassiz, 1844, the fossils of which are probably destroyed, therefore the new type species C. bassanii was designated.

Taxonomy

The following species are known:

  • †C. bassanii de Alessandri, 1910 - Late Anisian of Italy & Switzerland (Besano Formation)
  • †C. maximus (Quenstedt, 1867) - Anisian of Italy (Besano Formation), Anisian to Carnian of Germany (Muschelkalk)
  • †C. praemaximus Corroy, 1928 - Early Triassic of France
  • †C. koenigi Stolley, 1920 - Late Anisian of Germany (Muschelkalk) (possibly synonymous with C. bassanii)
  • †C. baii Sun et al., 2008 - Anisian of Guizhou, China
  • †C. giganteus (Beltan, 1972) - Late Ladinian of Spain (Muschelkalk)
  • †C. wushaensis Li et al., 2019 - Carnian of Guizhou, China

Several other species (C. stensioei, C. dealessandrii, C. stolleyi, C. cyclolepis, and C. anguillalepis) were proposed by Mutter (2002) from a single fossiliferous level from the Besano Formation, although their validity is uncertain due to the extreme morphological variety within the group.

Records of Colobodus exist outside of Europe and China, but these remains are thought to be highly questionable.

Synonyms

  • Colobodus altilepis Woodward, 1912 → Perleidus woodwardi (Woodward, 1912)
  • Colobodus scutatus Gervais, 1852 → Bobasatrania scutata (Gervais, 1852)

Fossil gallery

  • Colobodus bassanii fossil
  • Fossil at Museo dei Fossili, Besano
  • Three-dimensionally preserved head of Colobodus maximus
  • Lower jaw and dentition of Colobodus maximus
  • Isolated scale

See also