Odontiodontids

Odontiodontids are a taxonomic family of extinct ray-finned fish that lived during the Carboniferous period. Their fossilized remains are found primarily in Europe and North America. The family is characterized by a distinctive dental structure, from which their name is derived, meaning "tooth-toothed." Specifically, they possessed numerous small, conical teeth arranged in bands on their jaws. These fish typically inhabited freshwater environments, such as ancient rivers and lakes, based on the sedimentary rock formations where their fossils are discovered.

The exact evolutionary relationships of odontiodontids are still a subject of scientific study. They are generally placed within the order Palaeonisciformes, a diverse group of early ray-finned fishes. While some species of odontiodontids were relatively small, others could reach moderate sizes. Their bodies were often covered in ganoid scales, a type of rhomboid scale common in early bony fishes. The fin structures and skeletal features of odontiodontids provide clues about their locomotion and feeding habits, suggesting they were likely predatory or scavengers within their aquatic ecosystems. The extinction of the odontiodontids, like many other fish families from the Paleozoic era, is attributed to broader environmental changes and the development of more advanced fish lineages.