Pseudophichthys, Roule, 1915

Ebersole, Jun A., Cicimurri, David J. & Stringer, Gary L., 2019, Taxonomy and biostratigraphy of the elasmobranchs and bony fishes (Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes) of the lower-to-middle Eocene (Ypresian to Bartonian) Claiborne Group in Alabama, USA, including an analysis of otoliths, European Journal of Taxonomy 585, pp. 1-274 : 191-192

Pseudophichthys sp.

Fig. 69 K–L

Otolithus (Solea) glaber Koken, 1888: 293 , pl. 18, fig. 3.

Otolithus (Solea) glaber – Campbell 1929a: 274–275 , pl. 29, fig. 3

“ genus aff. Pseudophichthys ” glaber – Nolf 1985: 43 . — Müller 1999: 82.

Pseudophichthys glaber – Nolf & Stringer 2003: 4 , pl. 1, figs 13a–18.

Material examined

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – Alabama • 1 otolith; MSC 37059.2 .

Description

Sagitta with oval to elliptic outline (sensu Smale et al. 1995); margins smooth. Height/length ratio equals 56%. Inner face very slightly convex. Sulcus of inner face undivided, slants very slightly in posteroventral direction. Sulcus reaches anterior margin, possibly through shallow ostial channel, extends approximately 75% of length. Anterior and posterior ends of sulcus tapering. Fairly conspicuous depressed area above sulcus.

Remarks

The singular specimen available to us is broken, but the undivided sulcus allows us to identify it as congrid, and other preserved features identify it as Pseudophichthys . However, determination to the species level was not possible, although it is very similar to Pseudophichthys glaber from the Eocene of Louisiana ( Nolf & Stringer 2003).

Stratigraphic and geographic range in Alabama

Only one broken specimen of Pseudophichthys sp. was recovered from the “upper” Lisbon Formation at site ACh-7. Bartonian, zones NP16 and NP17.

Figures

Fig. 69. Claiborne Group, “upper” Lisbon Formation, otoliths. A–B. Albula sp., MSC 562. A. Inner face (right sagitta). B. Dorsal view. — C–D. Pythonicthys colei (Müller, 1999), WSU CC 474. C. Inner face (left sagitta). D. Dorsal view. — E–F. Muraenesocidae Kaup, 1859, indet., MSC 39064. E. Inner face (left sagitta). F. Dorsal view. — G–H. Ariosoma nonsector Nolf & Stringer, 2003, MSC 39069. G. Inner face (left sagitta). H. Dorsal view. — I–J. Paraconger sector (Koken, 1888), MSC 39052. I. Inner face (right sagitta, broken on anterodorsal angle). J. Dorsal view. — K–L. Pseudophichthys sp., MSC 37059.2. K. Inner face (right sagitta). L. Dorsal view. — M–N. Rhynchoconger sp., MSC 37059.6. M. Inner face (left sagitta). N. Dorsal view. — O–P. Gnathophis meridies (Frizzell & Lamber, 1962), MSC 37059.XX. O. Inner face (right sagitta). P. Dorsal view. — Q–R. Myripristis sp., MSC 39047. Q. Inner face (right sagitta). R. Dorsal view. Scale bars: A–B =5 mm; C–R =2 mm.