Gobiosoma emberae, Schwarzhans & Aguilera, 2024

Gobiosoma emberae n. sp.

Figure 36l View Fig

Holotype NMB P15777 View Materials ( Fig. 36l View Fig ), Messinian, Chucunaque FM, Pacific Panama, Darien, PPP 1612 .

Etymology Named after the indigenous Indian tribe Embera inhabiting the Darien province of Panama.

Diagnosis Otolith size 0.9 mm in length. OL:OH = 0.95. Otolith shape more or less rectangular with pronounced predorsal, preventral and postventral angles and angular postdorsal projection. Anterior, posterior and predorsal rims slightly concave. Sulcus long, relatively narrow, deepened, without ostial lobe; OL:SuL = 1.55; sulcus inclination angle 20°. No subcaudal iugum. Ventral furrow regularly curved.

Description A small otolith of 0.9 mm in length (holotype). OH:OT = 2.8. Otolith more or less rectangular. Dorsal rim shallow, with nearly orthogonal, high positioned predorsal angle, slightly concave ascending predorsal rim, obtuse but distinct postdorsal angle and angular, not protruding postdorsal projection. Ventral rim nearly flat, horizontal, with orthogonal preventral angle and rounded postventral angle. Anterior rim vertical, broadly concave; posterior rim vertical, very slightly concave. All rims smooth.

Inner face moderately convex in both directions; area around sulcus markedly bulged. Sulcus long, relatively narrow, distinctly deepened, its ostial tip more pointed than caudal tip; no ostial lobe discernable; sulcus inclination angle 20°; OL:SuL = 1.55. No subcaudal iugum. Dorsal depression marked, long and narrow, with wide crista superior toward sulcus, connected to evenly curving ventral furrow around sulcus. Outer face convex, smooth.

Discussion Despite its small size, G. emberae is well characterized by its shape, particularly the sharply angled, high predorsal angle and the concave predorsal and anterior rims. Tese characters and the long sulcus set G. emberae apart from coeval otoliths and the known extant Gobiosoma otoliths.