Ophichthus brevior, (Koken, 1888)

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 : 28

“ Ophichthus ” brevior ( Koken, 1888)

Fig. 38A

Otolithus (Congeris) brevior Koken, 1888: 293 , pl. 18 fig. 7.

“ Conger ” brevior – Frizzell & Lamber 1962: 90, figs 4a–b, 10 a–d.

“genus Ophichthyidarum ” brevior – Nolf 1985: 115; 2003: 3, pl. 1 fig. 1.

“ Ophichthida ” brevior – Nolf 2013: 34, pl. 19.

Remarks

This species is only known from its holotype, a small left otolith, which was tentatively attributed to an ophichthid by Nolf (1985). The otolith mentioned as “genus Congridarum ” aff. brevior by Müller (1999: 82, fig. 21/7) shows a different pattern from ophichthid otoliths and probably belongs to a congrid.

Stratigraphic and geographic distribution

Bartonian: Moodys Branch Formation, Mississippi.

Figures

Fig. 38 (opposite page). Fish otoliths from the US middle and upper Eocene. A. “Ophichthus” brevior (Koken, 1888), holotype (ZMB Ot. 26), “Jackson Beds”, Mississippi (?). B. Gnathophis dissimilis (Frizzell & Lamber, 1962), Moodys Branch F., Town Creek, Jackson, Mississippi (IRSNB P 9038). C. Paraconger solidus Müller, 1999, holotype (coll. Institut für Geowissenschaften, University of Leipzig, Nr. 10/P67), Piney Point F., loc. 24 (Horseshoe) of Müller, 1999, Virginia. D–G. Paraconger yazooensis Nolf & Stringer, 2003, Yazoo Clay, Tullos M., Copenhagen, Louisiana. D. Holotype (IRSNB P 6962). E–G. Paratypes (IRSNB P 6963–6965). H. Muraenanguilla aff. thevenini (Priem, 1906), Yazoo Clay, Copenhagen, Louisiana (IRSNB P 6966). I. Signata nicoli Dante & Frizzell, 1965, Weches F., Pleasanto, Atascosa County, Texas, holotype (USNM 23370). J. Xenosirembo decipiens (Koken, 1888), lectotype (ZMB Ot. 135), middle Eocene, “Clayborne Group”, southern USA. K. Brotula aquitanica Nolf, 1980, Yazoo Clay, Tullos M., Copenhagen, Louisiana (IRSNB P 7419). L–O. Aequalobythites aequaloides (Nolf & Stringer, 2003), Yazoo Clay, Copenhagen, Louisiana.L. Holotype (IRSNB P 6977). M–O. Paratypes (IRSNB P 6978–6980). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view. Scale bars = 1 mm.