Chondrenchelys

{{Short description|Extinct genus of cartilaginous fishes}}

{{Italic title}}

{{Taxobox

| name = Chondrenchelys

| fossil_range = {{fossil_range|Visean}}

| image = Chondrenchelys problematica.jpg

| regnum = Animalia

| phylum = Chordata

| classis = Chondrichthyes

| ordo = Chondrenchelyiformes

| familia = Chondrenchelyidae

| genus = Chondrenchelys

| genus_authority = Traquair, 1888

| species = C. problematica

| binomial = Chondrenchelys problematica

| binomial_authority = Traquair, 1888

}}

Chondrenchelys is an extinct genus of cartilaginous fish{{cite journal |author=Richard Lund |year=1982 |title=Harpagofututor volsellorhinus new genus and species (Chondrichthyes, Chondrenchelyiformes) from the Namurian Bear Gulch Limestone, Chondrenchelys problematica Traquair (Visean), and their sexual dimorphism |journal=Journal of Paleontology |volume=56 |issue=4 |pages=938–958 |jstor=1304712}} and the earliest member of Holocephali known from complete skeletons.{{cite journal |last1=Finarelli |first1=John A. |last2=Coates |first2=Michael I. |title=Chondrenchelys problematica (Traquair, 1888) redescribed: a Lower Carboniferous, eel-like holocephalan from Scotland |journal=Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh |date=1 March 2014 |volume=105 |issue=1 |pages= 35–59 |doi=10.1017/S1755691014000139|s2cid=130533675 }} Chondrenchelys would have been quite a relatively medium-sized fish with an elongated body up to {{cvt|18|cm|ft}}in length, it had a dorsal fin which was indeed long and a body which tapered to a point. Chondrenchelys had one large pair, one middle-sized pair, and three small pair of tooth plates in each jaw. The genus name derives from the Greek word χόνδρος, meaning “gristle” or “cartilage”, and ἔγχελυς, meaning “eel”. The speciea name, problematicus, is likely derived from the lack of scales setting it apart from all other fish known at the time of discovery.{{cite journal |last1=Traquair |first1=R. H. |title=II.—Further Notes on Carboniferous Selachii |journal=Geological Magazine |date=March 1888 |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=101–104 |doi=10.1017/S0016756800173467}}