Apogon americanus, (Dante & Frizzell, 1965)

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 : 61-62

“ Apogon ” americanus (Dante & Frizzell, 1965)

Fig. 20F–J

“ Myctophum ” americanum Dante & Frizzell in Frizzell & Dante, 1965: 696, pl. 86 figs 14–16.

“ Apogonida ” americana – Nolf 2013: 96, pl. 230.

Remarks

This species is characterized by the nearly equal length of the ostium and cauda and by the large ostial colliculum. Therefore, it reasonably aligns with the features of apogonid otoliths. However, the massive and protruding rostrum and compact posterior part of the otolith is not seen in any of the Recent apogonid genera. We here follow Nolf’s (2013) interpretation and place it as an incertae sedis genus within Apogonidae . A very large specimen (9 mm length) was collected at the Stone City Bluff (Texas) ( Fig. 20G ), expanding the range of otolith ontogeny of the species.

Stratigraphic and geographic distribution

Lutetian: Weches Formation and “Stone City beds”, Texas. Bartonian: Wheelock Member, Texas.

Figures

Fig. 20. Fish otoliths from the US middle and upper Eocene. A–C. “Neobythites” rotundus Müller, 1999, Piney Point F., sand and gravel pit, Bottoms Bridge, loc. 22 of Müller, Virginia (IRSNB P 10100–10102). D–E. Apogon sp., “Stone City beds”, Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, Texas (IRSNB P 10103–10104). F–J. “Apogon” americanus (Dante & Frizzell, 1965), “Stone City beds”, Texas. F–G. Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, sample 2 from bed P (IRSNB P 10105–10106). H–J. Alabama Ferry, on Trinity River, North (IRSNB P 10107–10109). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view. Scale bars = 1 mm.