Palatogobius grandoculus Greenfield, 2002

Schwarzhans, Werner W. & Aguilera, Orangel A., 2024, Otoliths of the Gobiidae from the Neogene of tropical America, Swiss Journal of Palaeontology (13) 143 (1), pp. 1-129 : 50

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-023-00302-5
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/492D87AA-FF9A-FFD5-018C-FAD061E1FA98
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Palatogobius grandoculus Greenfield, 2002
status

Treatment

Palatogobius grandoculus Greenfield, 2002 View in CoL

Figure 25a–g View Fig

Material (fossil specimens) 28 specimens: 19 specimens Zanclean , Cubagua FM , Venezuela: 4 specimens PPP 2554 , 9 specimens PPP 3055 (figured specimen NMB P15608 View Materials ) , 6 specimens PPP 3057 (figured specimens NMB P15603-04 View Materials ) . 9 specimens Gelasian , Bastimentos FM , Ground Creek Unit, Atlantic Panama : 7 specimens PPP 1252 (figured specimen NMB P15607 View Materials ) , 2 specimens PPP 3204 ( NMB P15605-06 View Materials ) .

Description Otolith size up to 1.3 mm in length; OL:OH = 0.92–1.0; OH:OT = 2.8–3.2. Otolith shape high-bodied with relatively regularly curved dorsal rim without prominent predorsal or postdorsal angles, highest at its middle. Ventral rim straight, horizontal. Preventral and postventral angles distinct, longest section of otolith between them. Anterior and posterior rims steep, dorsally inclined. All rims smooth.

Inner face flat with region above ventral furrow and below dorsal depression slightly bulged. Sulcus small, narrow, relatively deep, with very low ostial lobe; sulcus inclination angle 2–7°; OL:SuL = 2.1–2.6. Subcaudal iugum moderately long, relatively narrow. Dorsal depression large, wide, somewhat variably expressed. Ventral furrow distinct, regularly curved, moderately close to ventral rim of otolith. Outer face convex, smooth.

Discussion Te otoliths of Palatogobius grandoculus are quite similar to those of Antilligobius nikkiae , differing in the more regularly curved dorsal rim without marked angles, the even smaller sulcus (OL:SuL = 2.1–2.6 vs 1.9– 2.1) and the less inclined sulcus (2–7° vs 6–12°). Te species occurs regularly but never very common since the Early Pliocene in deeper water sediments of Venezuela and Atlantic Panama. Today, Palatogobius grandoculus occurs hovering above the substrate in small schools at depth of about 220 to 280 m in the Caribbean ( Tornabene et al., 2016).