Clupavus

Clupavus is a genus of prehistoric fish that lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 160 to 150 million years ago. Fossil remains of Clupavus have been discovered primarily in Europe, particularly in the Solnhofen Limestone region of Germany, which is renowned for its exceptionally preserved marine fossils. The name *Clupavus* derives from the Latin words *clupea*, meaning "herring," and *avus*, meaning "ancestor," reflecting its evolutionary relationship to modern herring-like fishes.

Clupavus is notable for its elongated, streamlined body, which suggests a highly adapted form for swimming. It possessed a series of small, overlapping scales and a forked tail, similar to many modern teleost fishes. The fish reached lengths of around 10 to 15 centimeters, indicating it was relatively small for its time. Its skeletal structure, including a well-developed vertebral column and paired fins, indicates it was a fast and agile swimmer, likely inhabiting open marine environments.

Fossil evidence of Clupavus provides insights into the early evolution of teleost fishes, which dominate modern aquatic ecosystems. While Clupavus itself became extinct, its lineage contributed to the diversification of bony fishes. The Solnhofen fossils, preserved in fine-grained limestone, offer detailed views of its anatomy, including soft tissues in some specimens, aiding paleontologists in reconstructing its appearance and behavior.

Clupavus is often studied alongside other contemporaneous marine vertebrates, such as the pterosaurs and ichthyosaurs, that shared its habitat. Its presence in the fossil record highlights the ecological complexity of Jurassic marine ecosystems and the gradual transition of fish lineages toward modern forms.