koettelevia

Koettelevia is a genus of extinct teleost fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Fossils of Koettelevia have been found in deposits in what is now Europe. This genus is known from fragmentary remains, primarily including scales and isolated vertebrae, making a comprehensive reconstruction of its appearance challenging.

The scales of Koettelevia are a notable feature, often described as rhomboidal and possessing a specific ornamentation pattern. These scales are key to its identification in the fossil record. The vertebral elements suggest a relatively small-to-medium sized fish, though precise body length estimates are difficult to ascertain due to the limited fossil material.

The paleoenvironment in which Koettelevia lived was likely a marine or brackish water setting. Its presence in Late Cretaceous formations indicates it was part of the diverse fish communities that inhabited the oceans of that era. The ecological role of Koettelevia within its ecosystem is not well understood, but it likely occupied a niche typical of small predatory or omnivorous teleosts of the time.

The classification of Koettelevia has been subject to some debate among paleontologists due to the scarcity of diagnostic features. However, it is generally placed within the teleost group of bony fishes. Further discoveries of more complete specimens would be crucial to better understand the evolutionary relationships and detailed anatomy of Koettelevia.