Abstract
Studies of fossil and Recent otoliths (sagittae) supply an important line of evidence, bearing on classification of teleost fishes, supplementary to that of anatomy, osteology, and "phylogenetic" paleo ichthyology.
Squirrelfishes (" Holocentridae" of authors) are generalized forms in which evolutionary divergence of some magnitude is reflected in unpreservable details of anatomy, inconspicuous skeletal structures, and striking differentiation of the sagittae. Otoliths show the holocentroid complex to consist of one homogeneous unit (l\fyripristidae, elevated) and another more heterogeneous group (Holocentridae, restricted). These lineages have been separated at least since the middle Eocene.
A revised classification, based on available lines of evidence in addition to that of otoliths, is proposed. (***=known only from fossil skeletal material; **=known only from fossil otoliths; *=Recent otoliths examined.)
Holocentridae (restricted): *** Holocentroides Pauca; *** Holocentrites Conrad; *Holocentrus Scopoli ; Flammeo Jordan and Evermann, with subgenera Flammeo s. s., *Adioryx Starks, and *Sargocentron Fowler.
Myripristidae (elevated from Myripristinae Nelson, 1955): • **Stintonia, new genus; **Weileria, new genus; *Myripristis Cuvier; Corniger Agassiz; Holotrachys Gunther; *Ostichthys Cuv. and Val.; *Plectrypops Gill.
New genera are proposed as follows:
Stintonia, new genus: S. brazosia, new species; S. creola, new species; • S. dimidiata (Bassoli); S. glendonensis, new species; S. matoschi (Schubert); S. priemi (Schubert) (type); and S. radiata (Weiler). The genus is known in the middle Eocene of the United States, the upper Eocene of the United States and western Europe, the Oligocene of the United States and Germany, and the Miocene of Germany.
Weileria, new genus.: W. banatica (Weiler); W. brandonis, new species; W. cajun, new species; W. insignis. (Koken); and W. louisiana, new species (type). The genus is known in the upper Eocene of the United States, the Oligocene of the United States and Germany, and the Miocene of Germany.
Recommended Citation
Frizzell, Donna L. and Lamber, C. Kurt, "New Genera and Species of Myripristid Fishe~ in the Gulf Coast Cenozoic, Known From Otoliths (Pisces, Beryciformes)" (1961). Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy Bulletins. 2.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/msm_bulletins/2
Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Document Type
Bulletin
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 1961 Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, All rights reserved
Publication Date
1961
