neutronstus

Neutronstus is a genus of extinct marine ray-finned fish that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 99.6 to 66 million years ago. The genus is known from a single species, Neutronstus watsoni, which was discovered in the Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia. Neutronstus is notable for its unique combination of features, including a large, robust body, a long, slender snout, and a set of teeth that are adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey.

The fossil remains of Neutronstus consist of a nearly complete skull and several isolated teeth. The skull is characterized by a large, robust rostrum (snout) that tapers to a point, and a set of teeth that are adapted for crushing hard-shelled prey. The teeth are conical in shape, with a sharp, pointed tip and a broad base, which suggests that they were used to crush the shells of mollusks and other hard-shelled organisms.

Neutronstus is believed to have been a predatory fish that fed on a variety of hard-shelled prey, including mollusks, crustaceans, and other small fish. Its unique combination of features suggests that it may have been an early example of a group of fish known as the teleosts, which are the most diverse and successful group of ray-finned fish today. However, further research is needed to fully understand the evolutionary relationships of Neutronstus and its place in the tree of life.