Eolates, SORBINI, 1970

Otero, Olga, 2004, Anatomy, systematics and phylogeny of both Recent and fossil latid fishes (Teleostei, Perciformes, Latidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 141 (1), pp. 81-133 : 84

GENUS † EOLATES SORBINI, 1970

1828 – Lates Cuvier & Valenciennes , p. 88.

1970 – † Eolates Sorbini , p. 11.

Type species: † Lates gracilis ( Agassiz, 1843) .

Emended diagnosis: A polyphyletic genus and latid stem group, it unites latid species that are plesiomorphic when compared with Lates + Psammoperca : there are three epurals, no apophysis on the haemal spine of the preural vertebra 2 and five free and autogenous hypurals. Moreover, their predorsal formula (/0/0+0/II/I+I/; 0/0/0+II/I+I/) often varies from that of Recent latids; they have more than three small spines on the posterior border of the cleithrum; one row of lateral line scales on the caudal fin (as in Lates ); VC = 10/ 11+13/15(4); epineurals developed on the first six or seven vertebrae; D = VIII/IX+I-(9)10/12; gap between the dorsal fins reduced in size when compared with Recent species; A = II/III+7/8, C = I-8: 7-I; stegural and uroneural present; caudal fin with posterior bor- der rounded. A caudal spur is present on the first procurrent ventral ray of † Eolates (observed in † E. gracilis ).

The three † Eolates species differ from each other in the combination of several characters. They all are Palaeogene Tethyan species.