Haistar

Haistar is a genus of extinct teleostean fish, primarily known for their fossil records found in marine sediments. The name "Haistar" was coined from the combination of their fossil location in the in the Hauterivian period of the Early Cretaceous, specifically in the Hatti formation in Turkey.

Haistar fossils have been found worldwide, but the majority of discoveries are concentrated in the Middle East and Europe. The oldest known species of Haistar dates back to approximately 145 million years ago during the Early Jurassic. Based on the study of Haistar fossils, scientists have made an assumption that these species were mostly marine predators with appropriate anatomical adaptations.

The physical appearance of Haistar species varied greatly among species. Some Haistar specimens appeared to be greatly flattened and almost disc-like, while others took on more triangular or even spherical shapes. Their skulls and tooth compositions have been found to vary as well, with some having conical and pointed molars while others had jagged teeth on the top surface of their beaks.

In terms of functional classification, Haistar fossils belonged to a group of possibly omnivorous predators. Some theories suggest they evolved to target mollusks or small aquatic organisms, while others assumed that they primarily targeted marine animals. The life habits of Haistar are still a subject of ongoing research and debate, with more fossil findings and etc needed for more concrete conclusions.