Aethalionopsis is an extinct genus of prehistoric freshwater bony fish from the Early Cretaceous (Barremian to early Aptian, with possible earlier or later occurrences) of western Europe.[1] Formerly classified as a species of the elopiform Anaethalion, it is now known to be a relative of the modern milkfish (Chanos) in order Gonorhynchiformes. It was previously placed as a basal member of the suborder Chanoidei, but is now more often placed as a basal member of the subfamily Chaninae of the family Chanidae, placing it closer to the extant Chanos.[2][3][4][5]
| Aethalionopsis
Temporal range: Early Cretaceous
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|---|---|
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| Aethalionopsis robustus | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gonorynchiformes |
| Family: | Chanidae |
| Subfamily: | Chaninae |
| Genus: | †Aethalionopsis Gaudant, 1966 |
| Species: |
†A. robustus
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| Binomial name | |
| †Aethalionopsis robustus (Traquair, 1911) | |
Only a single species is presently accepted, A. robustus from the famous Iguanodon dinosaur locality of the Sainte-Barbe Clays FormationinBernissart, Belgium. However, potential localities are also known from the Berriasian-HauterivianofSussex, England (classified in the genus AnaethalionasA. valdensis), and the Aptian-Albian of southern Italy (possibly an undescribed species). However, more recent studies have only accepted and commented on A. robustus, with no mention of these other occurrences.[2][6]
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