ACIPENSERIFORMES Berg, 1940

Kovalchuk, О. М., Marareskul, V. A., Zakharov, D. S. & Obadă, T. F., 2015, Early Pliocene Sturgeons And Bony Fishes From The Dniester Valley (Republic Of Moldova), Vestnik Zoologii 49 (1), pp. 49-56 : 51-52

Order ACIPENSERIFORMES Berg, 1940

Family ACIPENSERIDAE Bonaparte, 1831 Genus Acipenser Linnaeus, 1758

Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt et Ratzeburg, 1833 — one opercular bone (Nik 11– 1/1, fig. 2 , 1 ), three distal fragments of pinna pectoralis I (Nik 11–1/2–4, fig. 2, 2–4 ). Length of operculare is 7.2 cm, width — 5.0 cm. This bone, taking into account morphology and meristic values, is belongs to the Russian sturgeon. Length of the preserved pectoral fin rays is 3.2, 2.4, and 2.2 cm, respectively. The systematic attribution of these bones is less certain. Besides, a large operculare and other bone fragments of A. gueldenstaedtii from the isochronous strata of Slavyanoserbka (RM) are in funds of NMNH-P.

Acipenser sp. — 1 marginalia with broken edges (Ut 12–1/1, fig. 2 , 5), L = 2.5 cm, W = 1.7 cm. This specimen of the sturgeon is similar to those from Priozernoe locality (RM), but has a smaller size.

Finds of the fossil remnants of various sturgeons (e. g., Acipenser sp. , etc.) are so numerous in the heterochronous Pliocene strata of RM and Southern Ukraine ( Tarashchuk, 1962). Taking into account their diversity and important biostratigraphic role, these fishes deserve to special study.

Order CYPRINIFORMES Goodrich, 1909 Family CYPRINIDAE Fleming, 1822 Genus Rutilus Rafinesque, 1820

Rutilus sp. — two isolated pharyngeal teeth (Ut 12 – 1/2 – 3, fig. 3 , 1–2 ). Pharyngeal teeth are large, with fungiform, laterally compressed crown and a distinct convex arcuate tooth back. Grinding surface is narrow and slightly convex. Pedicle is broken, oval in the crosssection. Height of the pharyngeal teeth is 5.8 and 6.0 mm, width of the crown — 9.4 and 16.9 mm, respectively. Pharyngeal teeth are similar to those in the extant Rutilus frisii , except bigger size. Possibly, systematic position of these remnants can be justified later (first of them may be also determined as a pharyngeal tooth fragment of Carassius sp. ). Rutilus frisii and Rutilus sp. were identified in the Late Miocene (Pontian) and Early Pliocene on the south of Ukraine (Kamenskoe, Kuchurgan), and also from the Priozernoe locality in the Republic of Moldova.

Рис. 2. Acipenser gueldenstaedtii : 1 — operculare; 2–4 — фрагменты лучей грудного плавника (pinna pectoralis I); Acipenser sp. : 5 — жучка.

3 4

4 — Barbus sp.

Рис. 3. Изолированные глоточные зубы карповых рыб: 1–2 — Rutilus sp. ; 3 — Scardinius erythrophthalmus ; 4 — Barbus sp.

Figures

Fig. 2. Acipenser gueldenstaedtii: 1 — opercular bone; 2–4 — pectoral fin fragments (pinna pectoralis I); Acipenser sp.: 5 — marginalia.

Fig. 1. Location map of the Early Pliocene sites with the fish remnants in the Republic of Moldova.

Fig. 3. Isolated pharyngeal teeth of carp fishes: 1–2 — Rutilus sp.; 3 — Scardinius erythrophthalmus;