Avitoluvarus

Taxobox
name = "Avitoluvarus"
fossil_range = fossil range|34Thanetian to Middle Eocene


image_width =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
subordo = Acanthuroidei
familia = Luvaridae
genus = "Avitoluvarus"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "A. mariannae"
* "A. dianae"
* "A. eocaenicus"
synonyms =
* "Proluvarus necopinatus"

"Avitoluvarus" ("Ancient Louvar") is a genus of extinct louvar that lived in the Tethys Ocean during the early Paleogene. The first specimens were found from the Danata Formation Lagerstätten, of the Thanetian epoch of Turkmenistan, where they were originally thought to be smaller or juvenile individuals of the true louvar, "Luvarus necopinatus". These specimens were later reexamined, and determined to be a separate genus comprising of two different species [ [http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Paleobiology/pdf_lo/SCtP-0081.pdf] Phylogenetic Revision of the Fish Families Luvaridae and †Kushlukiidae (Acanthuroidei), with a New Genus and Two New Species of Eocene Luvarids] .

A third species, "A. eocaenicus" is known from the Middle Eocene of the Kumsky Horizon, in what is now the Northern Caucasus Mountains in Southwestern Russia.

"Avitoluvarus" differs from modern louvars in that the former's forehead does not bulge out as much, giving the appearance of having the face appear higher.

References