Epanechnikovia

Epanechnikovia is a genus of extinct ray-finned fish that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. Fossil remains of Epanechnikovia have been discovered in deposits in Russia. The genus is known from several well-preserved specimens, which have allowed for detailed anatomical studies.

Epanechnikovia belongs to the order Macrosemiiformes, a group of Mesozoic fishes that are characterized by their heavy scales and dorsal fins. Within this order, Epanechnikovia is placed in the family Macrosemiidae. The specific features that distinguish Epanechnikovia from other macrosemiids include details of its skull morphology, fin structure, and vertebral column.

The environment in which Epanechnikovia lived was likely freshwater or brackish water, based on the sedimentary rocks where its fossils are found. These fish were probably relatively small to medium-sized, as indicated by the size of the discovered fossils. Their diet is not definitively known, but like other Mesozoic fish, they were likely carnivores or omnivores, feeding on smaller invertebrates or plant matter. The discovery of Epanechnikovia contributes to our understanding of fish diversity and evolution during the Cretaceous period, a time of significant diversification in aquatic life.