Pseudotolithus sp.

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 : 62

publication ID

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-023-00268-4

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03ED255D-3B0D-FF86-99BF-693BFA7C5286

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Pseudotolithus sp.
status

 

Pseudotolithus sp.

Figure 28h View Fig

2003 Pteroscion sp. 2 —Mendiola & Martínez: pl. 12, Figs. 17–19 View Fig View Fig View Fig , pl. 17, Figs. 1–8 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig .

Material 1 specimen, SMF PO 101.271 , Dar bel Hamri, Zanclean .

Discussion An otolith of 9.5 mm in length represents a second species of the genus Pseudotolithus . It differs from P. cf. typus (see above) in the slightly more compressed shape (OL:OH = 1.6 vs. at least 1.75), the much thicker outer face with a massive postcentral umbo (OH:OT = 1.35 vs. 1.6), the much less pronounced twist of the ventral margin of the otolith, and the small expansion of the outer face over the postdorsal rim (vs. significant overlap). Te otolith resembles the extant P. elongatus (Bowdich, 1825) and P. epipercis Bleeker, 1863 (see Schwarzhans, 1993, for figures of extant specimens) in proportions but differs in the ostium reaching close to the anterior rim of the otoliths (vs. distant from anterior rim), the massive postcentral umbo on the outer face, and the postdorsal rim. It may represent an extinct species, but I refrain from formal action, because it is not clear how much the thin anterior rim of the otolith could have been affected by erosion and the features of the dorsal rim and outer face could be reflecting aspects of variability. Otoliths figured by Mendiola and Martínez (2003) as Pteroscion sp. 2 from the lower Pliocene of southern Spain may represent the same species, but judging from their drawings appear to be mostly eroded. Te six extant species of the genus Pseudotolithus are known today from tropical West Africa south of Morocco to Angola.

SMF

Forschungsinstitut und Natur-Museum Senckenberg

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