Prehistoric Planet Store - Replica fossils including dinosaurs like T. rex, Triceratops, and more!

Mene rhombea was a perciform fish belonging to the family Menidae (moonfish). During the Middle Eocene about 48 to 40 mya, these fishes lived in the Tethys Ocean, a large tropical sea in the area corresponding to the current Mediterranean. This ocean was extended between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia.

Mene rhombea had a laterally compressed body, very long and slim pelvic fins and a wide triangular tail fin. As suggested by their fossils' small, upturned mouths, and by comparison of its living relative, Mene maculata, fishes of this species were planktivore. The species shows close affinities with contemporary species inhabiting the coral reef environment of the Indo-Pacific warm seas.

These greatly valued fossils comes from the lagerstatte Monte Bolca, about 30 kilometers north-east of Verona, Italy.