Knightia Information
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Knightia is an extinct genus of fish well-known from abundant fossils found in the Green River Formation of Wyoming, United States. They rarely exceeded 25 cm in length and are found throughout the formation.
Restoration of a Knightia sp. school Fossil slab of a Knightia sp. schoolKnightia was a slender fish and seems to have been a secondary consumer, feeding mainly on ostracods, algal forms and diatoms, as well as some smaller fish. They were schooling fish, and because of this they are frequently found together in mass mortality layers. The tendency for individual fishes to cluster in groups was probably quite common. Modern forms of small fish are noted for schooling, and it is highly probable that the ancient types associated similarly. Knightias are often found in rock shops.
Knightia were abundant and important because they were included in the diets of most of the Green River Formation's larger fishes. They were double scuted, having rows of dorsal and ventral scutes running from the posterior end of the head back to the median fins.
Knightia is the state fossil of the state of Wyoming.
Species
- Knightia branneri †
- Knightia alta †
- Knightia humulus †
- Knightia eocaena †
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