Paraconger meridies ( Frizzell & Lamber, 1962 )

Lin, Chien-Hsiang & Nolf, Dirk, 2022, Middle and late Eocene fish otoliths from the eastern and southern USA, European Journal of Taxonomy 814, pp. 1-122 : 36

Paraconger meridies ( Frizzell & Lamber, 1962)

Fig. 10I–M

“ Conger ” meridies Frizzell & Lamber, 1962: 97 , figs 2a–b, 11a–d.

Paraconger meridies – Nolf 1985: 43.

Gnathophis meridies – Nolf 2013: 35, pl. 22. — Ebersole et al. 2019: 192 , fig. 69o–p.

Remarks

Nolf (2013) and Ebersole et al. (2019) allocated this species to Gnathophis , but reconsidering for the present study fixed our attention to the affinity with Paraconger papointi (Priem, 1906) from the Ypresian Hérouval sands in the Paris Basin ( Nolf 2013: pl. 23; compare with the specimens figured as Gnathophis meridies in Nolf 2013: pl. 22). Paraconger meridies is characterized by relatively elongate otoliths, due to the extended posterior part and a slightly ventrally oriented caudal end. For what concerns the slight depression in the dorsal area of P. meridies , this feature is present in the larger specimens of the series figured by Nolf (2013: pl. 22). Based on this combination of features, the species is here assigned to Paraconger . Besides the Ypresian type locality of P. meridies, Ebersole et al. (2019) reported four specimens from the Bartonian “upper” Lisbon Formation of Alabama. Otoliths of this species were absent from our Gulf Coastal assemblages; however, our specimens from the Piney Point Formation of Virginia extend its range to the upper Lutetian of the American side of the Atlantic.

Stratigraphic and geographic distribution

Ypresian: Bashi Marl, Mississippi. Lutetian: Piney Point Formation, Virginia. Bartonian: “upper” Lisbon Formation, Alabama.

Figures

Fig. 10. Fish otoliths from the US middle and upper Eocene. A–D. Rhynchoconger sp. 1, Wheelock M., Little Brazos River, Stenzel loc., Texas (IRSNB P 9980–9983). E–F. Rhynchoconger sp. 2, Landrum M., Crockett, Texas (IRSNB P 9984–9985). G–H. Heteroconger ovatus (Müller, 1999), Piney Point F., Pamunkey River, SW of Pampatike Landing, Virginia (IRSNB P 9986–9987). I–M. Paraconger meridies (Frizzell & Lamber, 1962), Piney Point F., Virginia. I–L. Pamunkey River, 1 km E of Eanes property (IRSNB P 9988–9991). M. Pamunkey River, SW of Pampatike Landing (IRSNB P 9992). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view. Scale bars = 1 mm.