#coccodus

Coccodus was a genus of coccodontid fish from the Late Cretaceous Period. Its type species is C. armatus. Its second known species is C. insignis. C. armatus and C. insignis were found in the Hakel and Hajula Formations in Lebanon, respectively. Unlike most other pycnodontiform fish, which often had a short body, Coccodus has a relatively long body and somewhat resemble the distantly related chimaeras.

C. insignis was differentiated from the type species by its broader lateral spines and relatively short but anteroposteriorly broad occipital spine. A third species, "C." lindstroemi, was named alongside C. insignis, however, the assigned specimens were found to actually belong to the new species of Joinvillichthys lindstroemi, J. kriweti, and Pankowskichthys libanicus.

C. armatus is known from its holotype, which consists of most of the front half of its body. Notably, two large, curved spines are present where pectoral fins would be expected. C. insignis is very similar in shape, but is known from several different skeletons. The greater family Coccodontidae sits within Pycnodontiformes, an extinct order of bony fish. It also has two related families, Gladiopycnodontidae and Gebrayelichthyidae, with which it forms the superfamily Coccodontoidea.

Original papers: C. armatus, C. insignis, C. lindstroemi reassignment