Mene garviei, Lin & Nolf & Steurbaut, 2022

Lin, Chien-Hsiang & Nolf, Dirk, 2022, Middle and late Eocene fish otoliths from the eastern and southern USA, European Journal of Taxonomy 814, pp. 1-122 : 65-66

Mene garviei sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A654012A-47FF-4478-9462-310422D160AA

Fig. 22D–E

Diagnosis

OL/OH = 1.63. Pyriform otoliths with large rostrum curving towards outer face at anterior tip. Sulcus wide, oblong. Ostium opens widely anteriorly. Cristae in cauda ridge-like, curving ventrally at posterior.

Etymology

This species is dedicated to Christopher Garvie for his very substantial help during our field work and for the donation of many otoliths that he collected.

Material examined

Holotype UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • Left otolith; Texas, Pin Oak Creek 1; Landrum Member of the Cook Mountain Formation ; Fig. 22D ; IRSNB P 10125 .

Paratype UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • 1 otolith; same collection data as for holotype; Fig. 22E ; IRSNB P 10126 .

Type locality and horizon

United States of America, Pin Oak Creek 1 (Texas), Landrum Member of the Cook Mountain Formation.

Dimensions of the holotype

Length = 1.76 mm; height = 1.11 mm; thickness = 0.44 mm.

Description

The otoliths of this species have a pyriform to elongate triangular outline, with the most considerable length in the antero-posterior direction. The posterior rim is almost vertical; it bears a rounded posterodorsal angle and a ventrally enlarged postero-ventral angle, which is accentuated by a notch at the junction with the ventral rim. This notch is most evident in the paratype. The margin of the dorsal rim is smooth in the holotype, but lobate in the paratype. The otoliths are thin and fragile, especially for what concerns the anterior portion; the posterior part is more robust and thickset. The inner face is convex and strongly curved towards the outer face at the anterior side. The outer face is concave, and in the holotype, a tubercle is seen near the rostrum. The sulcus is well-developed, deeply incised, and wide. In the crista superior, a constriction of the middle part marks the collum. The cristae are ridge-like, except at the posterior end, which is less delineated. The ostium widens gradually to the anterior end. The cauda is rather short and strongly curved in ventral direction. In the dorsal area, there is a small depression just above the central part of the crista superior. The ventral area is slightly larger than the dorsal one.

Remarks

Mene garviei sp. nov. is very rare (two specimens only); they were found only in the Landrum Member of the Cook Mountain Formation, Texas. A single otolith of Mene from the Yazoo Clay, Louisiana figured by Nolf & Stringer (2003: 6, pl. 4 fig. 16a–b) has a much shorter rostrum and higher posterior part, and likely represents another undescribed menid species.

Stratigraphic and geographic distribution

Bartonian: Landrum Member, Texas.

Figures

Fig. 22. Fish otoliths from the US middle and upper Eocene. A–C. “Atherina” debilis (Koken, 1888). A. “Stone City beds”, Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, sample 6 from bed U, Texas (IRSNB P 10122). B–C. Moodys Branch F., Jackson, Riverside Park, Mississippi (IRSNB P 10123–10124). D–E. Mene garviei sp. nov., Landrum M., Pin Oak Creek, Texas. D. Holotype (IRSNB P 10125). E. Paratype (IRSNB P 10126). F–G. Psettodes trapeziformis Müller, 1999, Piney Point F., Virginia. F. Pamunkey River, 1 km E of Eanes property (IRSNB P 10127). G. Pamunkey River, Devil’s Hole (IRSNB P 10128). H–I. Carangidae indet. H. Wheelock M., Little Brazos River, Stenzel loc., Texas (IRSNB P 10129). I. “Stone City beds”, Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, sample 2 from bed P, Texas (IRSNB P 10130). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view; 3 = anterior view. Scale bars = 1 mm.