Spicara alta (Osório, 1917)

Schwarzhans, Werner, 2023, Geology and stratigraphy of the Neogene section along the Oued Beth between Dar bel Hamri and El Kansera (Rharb Basin, northwestern Morocco) and its otolith-based fish fauna: a faunal inventory for the Early, Swiss Journal of Palaeontology (4) 142 (1), pp. 1-85 : 58

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-023-00268-4
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03ED255D-3B09-FF82-99BF-6DFBFE1C54A6
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Spicara alta (Osório, 1917)
status

Treatment

Spicara alta (Osório, 1917) View in CoL

Figure 27d View Fig

2022 Spicara alta (Osório, 1917) —van Hinsbergh & Hoedemakers: pl. 36, Figs. 8 View Fig , 9 View Fig .

Material 24 specimens, Dar bel Hamri, Zanclean (figured specimen SMF PO 101.291 ) .

Discussion Fossil otoliths of S. alta were first described by van Hinsbergh and Hoedemakers (2022) from the Piacenzian of Estepona, Spain. It is relatively common in the Zanclean of Dar bel Hamri, and as commented by van Hinsbergh & Hoedemakers can be easily confused with small specimens of species of Opsodentex . Tey differ from O. angolensis in the lesser curvature of the inner face and the lesser curvature of the caudal tip. In the molecular phylogenetic analysis of Chiba et al. (2009), Spicara alta resolves in a clade also containing species of Dentex which are here placed in Opsodentex . Such a relationship of Spicara alta would be consistent with its otolith morphology. Spicara alta today lives along the tropical west African coast from Senegal to southern Angola ( Froese & Pauly, 2022).