Barbulifer amplus, Schwarzhans & Aguilera, 2024

Barbulifer amplus n. sp.

Figure 32k–n View Fig

Holotype NMB P15747 View Materials ( Fig. 32m View Fig ), Calabrian , Swan Cay FM, Atlantic Panama, PPP 2531 .

Paratypes 4 specimens same data as holotype ( NMB P15748-51 View Materials ) .

Referred specimen 9 specimens: 2 specimens Gelasian , Bastimentos FM , Ground Creek Unit, Atlantic Panama, PPP 3202 . 7 specimens Calabrian , Swan Cay FM , Atlantic Panama , 1 specimen PPP 2221 , 6 specimens same data as holotype .

Etymology From amplus (Latin) = great, wide, referring to the comparatively large size of the otoliths.

Diagnosis Otolith size up to 1.9 mm in length. OL:OH = 1.25–1.35. Otolith shape parallelogram-like to slightly trapezoidal. Dorsal rim highest at obtuse, rounded postdorsal angle; predorsal angle distinct; postdorsal projection distinctly protruding; ventral rim straight to slightly bent, horizontal. Sulcus long, with very low ostial lobe; OL:SuL= 1.85–2.05; sulcus inclination angle 13–15°. No subcaudal iugum. Dorsal depression anteriorly connected to ventral furrow.

Description Otolith size up to 1.9 mm in length (holotype). OH:OT = 2.5–3.1. Otolith shape parallelogram-like or sometimes trapezoidal ( Fig. 32m View Fig ). Dorsal rim low, anteriorly straight and slightly inclined, with broadly rounded postdorsal angle as highest point. Predorsal angle distinct, sometimes protruding ( Fig. 32m, n View Fig ), postdorsal projection more or less strongly protruding. Preventral angle orthogonal or protruding, postventral angle broadly rounded. Anterior rim short, vertical or slightly inclined, with distinct central concavity; posterior rim slightly inclined toward ventral, with moderate concavity at level above caudal tip. Ventral rim flat or slightly curved, horizontal. All rims smooth.

Inner face moderately convex in both directions. Sulcus long, somewhat deepened, with very low ostial lobe, and rounded caudal tip; sulcus inclination angle 13–15°; OL:SuL = 1.85–2.05. No subcaudal iugum. Dorsal depression distinct, narrow, curved, close to dorsal rim of otolith, anteriorly connected around sulcus with distinct ventral furrow. Ventral furrow distinct, regularly curved, clipping preventral angle. Outer face evenly convex, about as strong as inner face, smooth.

Discussion Barbulifer amplus has relatively large otoliths for the genus indicating fish sizes in the range of 30 mm SL or more. Te only extant Barbulifer species reaching that size is B. pantherinus (Pellegrin, 1901) ( Fig. 32h–i View Fig ) from the Gulf of California. Its otoliths have a more pronounced postdorsal projection and a small sulcus. Today, Barbulifer has five species, two in the East Pacific, two in the Caribbean, and one off central Brazil. Te two extant Caribbean Barbulifer species, B. antennatus Böhlke & Robins, 1968 , and B. ceuthoecus ( Jordan & Gilbert, 1884), seem not to achieve sizes larger than 20 mm SL for B. antennatus (see Froese & Pauly, 2023) and 30 mm SL for B. ceuthoecus (see Robertson & Allen, 2015). Otoliths of B. ceuthoecus

( Fig. 32j View Fig ) do resemble B. amplus in otolith shape but have a larger sulcus (OL:SuL=1.65 vs 1.85–2.05). Barbulifer amplus has been found in the same environment as Aruma atlantica , primarily in the sand layer in a cavity in a fossil reef bioherm of the Swan Cay FM at Swan Cay (PPP 2221 and 2531), and differs in the longer sulcus (OL:SuL=1.85– 2.05 vs 2.15–2.55) and the protruding postdorsal projection.