Antilligobius nikkiae Van Tassell & Colin, 2012

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 : 48

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-023-00302-5
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/492D87AA-FF84-FFCB-018C-FAD066A3FB38
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Antilligobius nikkiae Van Tassell & Colin, 2012
status

Treatment

Antilligobius nikkiae Van Tassell & Colin, 2012 View in CoL

Figure 24a–i View Fig

Material (fossil specimens) 137 specimens: 1 specimen late Zanclean, upper Cayo Agua FM , Atlantic Panama, PPP 1188 ( NMB P15592 View Materials ) ; 9 specimens Piacenzian, Escudo de Veraguas FM , Atlantic Panama : 6 specimens PPP 1241 , 3 specimens PPP 2169 . 97 specimens Gelasian : 36 specimens Escudo de Veraguas FM , Atlantic Panama , 34 specimens PPP 2170 (figured specimens NMB P15587-89 View Materials ) , 1 specimen PPP 2173 , 1 specimen PPP 2297 ; 47 specimens Bastimentos FM , Ground Creek Unit, Atlantic Panama , 18 specimens PPP 1252 , 12 specimens PPP 1256 (figured specimen NMB P15586 View Materials ) , 27 specimens PPP 3204 (figured specimen NMB P15591 View Materials ) ; 4 specimens Moin FM , Atlantic Costa Rica, PPP 2032 . 30 specimens Calabrian, Swan Cay FM , Atlantic Panama , 24 specimens PPP 2221 (figured specimen NMB P15590 View Materials ) , 6 specimens PPP 2531 .

Description Otolith size up to 1.6 mm in length; OL:OH = 0.92–1.02; OH:OT = 3.2–3.7. Otolith shape high-bodied with predorsal angle positioned high and at same level as postdorsal tip; preventral and postventral angles well developed and longest horizontal section of otolith between them. Dorsal rim distinctly curved, sometimes irregularly undulating or highest at broad postdorsal angle. Ventral rim straight, horizontal. Anterior and posterior rims steep, dorsally inclined, with weak and broad central concavities. All rims smooth.

Inner face flat with region above ventral furrow and below dorsal depression slightly bulged. Sulcus small, narrow, relatively deep, with low ostial lobe; sulcus inclination angle 6–12°; OL:SuL = 1.9–2.1. Subcaudal iugum moderately long, wide. Dorsal depression large, wide, somewhat variably expressed. Ventral furrow distinct, regularly curved, relatively close to ventral rim of otolith. Outer face variably convex, smooth.

Discussion Antilligobius nikkiae is a common species in many of the deeper water sediments in the western Caribbean from Late Pliocene through Pleistocene. Today, Antilligobius nikkiae occurs hovering above the substrate in small schools at depth of about 100 to 200 m in the Caribbean ( Tornabene et al., 2016).