Palaeorhynchidae
| Palaeorhynchidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Fossil skeleton of Palaeorhynchus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Suborder: | Menoidei |
| Superfamily: | Xiphioidea |
| Family: | †Palaeorhynchidae Günther, 1880 |
| Type genus | |
| †Palaeorhynchus de Blainville, 1818 | |
| Genera | |
Palaeorhynchidae is an extinct family of small-sized billfishes known from fossil remains. They were found worldwide from the mid-Paleogene period to the early Miocene, and are considered an early lineage within the broader evolution of billfish-like species. These fish are recognized for their distinctive elongated, bill-like rostra, a feature they share with modern billfishes such as swordfish and marlins.