Vanderhorstia prochazkai Schwarzhans et al., 2020a, 2020b

Figure 6h–j

2020a Vanderhorstia prochazkai —Schwarzhans, Brzobohatý & Radwańska: pl. 7, figs. 12–18.

Material 6 otoliths: 1 specimen, Kozatskyi Yar, NMNHU- P PI 2581; 2 specimens, Mlyntsi, NMB P1223; 3 specimens, Shydlivshchyna, NMNHU-P PI 2582.

Discussion Tese are typical high-bodied and rather thick otoliths of V. prochazkai that are further characterized by a very large subcaudal iugum. Vanderhorstia prochazkai has been described from the late Badenian and early Sarmatian s.s. of the Central Paratethys by Schwarzhans et. al. (2020a). Today, species of the Asterropteryx Lineage live commensal with alpheid shrimps, and it has been suggested that this was also the case in the middle Miocene (Radwańska, 2018; Schwarzhans et al., 2020a).

Vanderhorstia sp.

Figure 6k

Material 2 otoliths, Shydlivshchyna, NMNHU-P PI 2583 and NMB P1224.

Discussion Two specimens differ from V. prochazkai in being distinctly thinner (OH:OT = 3.45 vs. mostly 3.0– 3.3, rarely 3.5) and in showing a narrow subcaudal iugum. It may represent a second species, but the available specimens are not sufficiently well-preserved for a definite assessment.