Since the late Oligocene, a fossil Coelorinchus species, C. stellaris, existed beside the Recent C. coelorhincus. In the Atlantic realm, C. stellaris appeared in the Palaeocanyon of Saubrigues (Aquitaine) in the Late Oligocene, but the species entered in the Mediterranean in the Late Pliocene (Gelasian) only, may be because of modified climatic conditions. In the Mediterranean realm, C. stellaris is known from the Gelasian and Early (Sanlernian, Emilian) - and Middle Pleistocene. Apparently, the species became extinct before the end of the Pleistocene. |
