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Which fossil osteoglossomorph groups are known from the Cretaceous and Eocene?
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Fossil osteoglossomorph groups known from the Cretaceous and Eocene periods include several distinct families and genera:
- Cretaceous: The family †Lycopteridae, which consisted of small freshwater fishes resembling hiodontiforms, is known from the Early Cretaceous of northeastern Asia. Additionally, the families †Cladocyclidae and †Ichthyodectidae are identified as Mesozoic osteoglossomorphs, though their precise relationships to living groups remain obscure.12
- Eocene: The genus Eohiodon (specifically Eohiodon rosei) is a fossil hiodontiform known from the Eocene of British Columbia. Furthermore, the genus Brychaetus is recognized as an Eocene osteoglossomorph.12
While some classifications also note the presence of fossils from other epochs—such as the Paleocene family †Singididae or Miocene and Late Paleocene Notopterus—the groups specifically cited in the context of the Cretaceous and Eocene are those listed above.12