biology

Opisthomyzon

Opisthomyzon is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Opisthomyzon rather than just read about it. In short: Opisthomyzon is an extinct genus of stem group-remora that lived during the Oligocene epoch. It contains a single species, O. glaronensis, from the Early Oligocene-aged Matt Formation of Switzerland.

Key takeaways

Opisthomyzon belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Opisthomyzon to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Opisthomyzon from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Opisthomyzon is an extinct genus of stem group-remora that lived during the Oligocene epoch. It contains a single species, O. glaronensis, from the Early Oligocene-aged Matt Formation of Switzerland. It is the only member of the family Opisthomyzonidae. It is the oldest known remora-like fish known from the fossil record, providing important evidence about the evolution of this family and its distinctive morphological features. It had already developed the iconic adhesive disk, further affirming its close relationship to extant remoras, but is presently retained in its own family due to its distinctive morphological features from them. For example, the adhesive disk was in a postcranial position extending onto the back, rather than directly on the head as with modern remoras. The specimen was originally named as Uropteryx elongatus by Agassiz (1835). However, this name was done without a proper description and is thus a nomen nudum. Wettstein (1886) described it among the extant remoras as Echeneis glaronensis, but Cope (1889) placed it in its own genus, Opisthomyzon. Friedman & Johanson (2012) erroneously revived U. elongatus for the genus, but Friedman et al (2013) reversed this decision after noting the former name's status as a nomen nudum.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Opisthomyzon

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Opisthomyzon claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Opisthomyzon before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Opisthomyzon ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Opisthomyzon

In research: Opisthomyzon appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Opisthomyzon in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Opisthomyzon is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Echeneidae, Fossil taxa described in 1889, Fossils of Switzerland, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Opisthomyzon outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Opisthomyzon in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Opisthomyzon means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Opisthomyzon out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Opisthomyzon in simple terms?

Opisthomyzon is an extinct genus of stem group-remora that lived during the Oligocene epoch. It contains a single species, O. glaronensis, from the Early Oligocene-aged Matt Formation of Switzerland.

Why does Opisthomyzon matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Opisthomyzon?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Opisthomyzon.