Eophycis

Eophycis
Temporal range:
Restoration of E. jamnesis
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Moridae
Genus: Eophycis
Jerzmanska, 1968
Type species
Eophycis jamnensis
Jerzmanska, 1968
Species
  • E. froidefontainensis Pharisat, 1991
  • E. jamnensis Jerzmańska, 1968
  • E. pshekhiensis Rozenberg & Prokofiev, 2004

Eophycis ("dawn Phycis") is an extinct genus of prehistoric morid gadiform fish that lived during the early Oligocene epoch in the Paratethys Sea, where it is known from both the eastern and western regions. It represents the oldest fossil record of the Moridae.

It contains three species:

  • E. froidefontainensis Pharisat, 1991 - Early Oligocene of France (Froidefontaine Formation)
  • E. jamnensis Jerzmańska, 1968 (type species) - Early Oligocene of Poland (Menilitic Formation)
  • E. pshekhiensis Rozenberg & Prokofiev, 2004 - Early Oligocene of North Caucasus, Russia (Pshekha Formation)

Several articulated, well-preserved specimens of E. jamnensis are known from Poland.