Gigantopterus ("giant wing") is an extinct genus of prehistoric marine ray-finned fish that lived around what is now Europe during the Late Triassic epoch. A single species is known, G. telleri from the Carnian-aged Reingrabener Schiefer of Austria. Like its close relative Thoracopterus, it had convergently evolved large pectoral fins reminiscent of modern flying fish. Tintori & Sassi (1992) suggested that it may be synonymous with Thoracopterus, but Shen & Arratia (2021) reaffirmed it as being a distinct genus.

See also

Further reading

  • Tintori, A.; Sassi, D. (1992). "Thoracopterus Bronn (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii): A gliding fish from the Upper Triassic of Europe". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 12 (3): 265–283. Bibcode:. doi:.
  • Xu, G.-H.; Zhao, L.-J. (2015). . Biology Letters. 11 (11) 20150604. doi:. PMC. PMID.