Esox, Linnaeus

Kovalchuk, Oleksandr M., Wilson, Mark V. H. & Grande, Terry, 2017, A review of Neogene and Quaternary pikes of southeastern Europe and a new species from the early Pleistocene of Nogaisk, Ukraine, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62 (1), pp. 121-135 : 130-132

Esox spp.

Fig. 6 .

Material.—Late Miocene: thirty teeth (NMNHU-P 29/ 1681–1710, Popovo 3); eleven teeth (NMNHU-P 33/554– 564, Mykhailivka 2); one dentary fragment, two teeth (NMNHU-P 41/3015–3017, Frunzovka 2); two teeth (NMNHU-P 41/3472, 3473, Palievo); one palatine fragment and three teeth (NMNHU-P 29/3966–3969, Lobkovo); eight teeth (NMNHU-P 45/5691–5698, Cherevichne 3); one tooth (NMNHU-P 29/3970, Vasylivka 1); two teeth (NMNHU-P 29/1467, 1468, Vasylivka 3); seventy teeth (NMNHU-P 29/1037–1106, Verkhnya Krynitsya 2); twenty-seven teeth (NMNHU-P 41/4498–4524, Egorovka 2); five teeth (NMNHU-P 41/4327–4331, Egorovka 1); one dentary fragment and twenty-four teeth (NMNHU-P 38/1964–1988, Novoukrainka 1); eight teeth, one palatine (NMNHU-P 33/514–522, Andreevka); three teeth (NMNHU-P 41/2848– 2850, Orekhovka); ten teeth (NMNHU-P 41/2465–2474, Pontian Lectostratotype); twenty-three teeth (NMNHU-P 41/2742–2764, Vinogradovka 1). Early Pliocene: two teeth (NMNHU-P 37/2555, 2556, Novopetrovka); fourteen teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4265–4278, Obukhovka 1); one tooth (NMNHU-P 42/2458, Vinogradovka 2); five teeth (NMNHU-P 42/2459–2463, Kotlovina 1). Late Pliocene: fifty-nine teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4279–4338, Obukhovka 2); six teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4342–4347, Zhevakhova Gora); one left dentary and four teeth (NMNHU-P 45/6020–6024, Cherevichne 2); fourteen teeth (NMNHU-P 29/626–639, Verkhnya Krynitsya 1). Early Pleistocene: nine teeth (NMNHU-P 42/2463–2471, Kotlovina 2); forty-seven teeth (NMNHU-P 42/2472–2518, Kotlovina 3); twenty teeth (NMNHU-P 1584–1603, Popovo 2); two teeth (NMNHU-P 29/1533, 1534, Popovo 1); two teeth (NMNHU-P 29/1472, 1473, Popovo 0); one left dentary fragment and eight teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4348–4356, Tiligul); three teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4357–4359, Nova Etuliya); thirteen teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4360–4372, Sinyaya Balka); fourteen teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4373–4386, Kairy); eight teeth (NMNHU-P 45/6025–6032, Cherevichne 1). Middle Pleistocene: ten teeth (NMNHU-P 42/2519–2528, Protopopovka 2); six teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4388–4393, Semibalka 1); five teeth NMNHU-P 29/380–384, Lysa Gora 1); one palatine fragment and six teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4394–4400, Bol’shevik 2); one hundred and five teeth (NMNHU-P 53/4401– 4505, Medzhibozh).

Description.—Palatines from Lobkovo and Bol’shevik 2 are represented by small fragments; their width is 2.4 mm and 5.8 mm, respectively. The toothed surface on the palatine Fig. 6H ) is very long and slightly concave, extending under the maxillary process. The dorsal surface of the bone is somewhat curved. The diameter of the tooth crowns on the palatines averages 0.6 mm.

It is not possible to measure some dentaries because they are fragmentary. WTR of the more complete dentaries varies from 2.1 mm (Frunzovka 2) to 3.1 mm (Novoukrainka 1); the WTR for the dentary from Tiligul (2.2 mm) is close to the smaller one.

Elongate, dagger-shaped jaw teeth ( Fig. 6A–G, I–T ) are laterally compressed, with slightly curved crowns and rounded bases. Tips of the teeth are sharp and cutting edges are slightly narrowed. Measurements of isolated jaw teeth of pikes are presented in Table 4 .

Remarks.—These jaw teeth and other bones undoubtedly belong to the genus Esox . Their species attribution is uncertain because of the bones are significant fragmented and the teeth are not diagnostic to species.

Figures

Fig. 6. Isolated elements assigned to a pike Esox spp. from Southeastern Europe; late Miocene (A–J), Pliocene (N–Q), and Pleistocene (K–M, R–T). A–G, I–T. Tooth, lateral view. A. NMNHU-P 41/3472, Palievo. B. NMNHU-P 33/561, Mykhailivka 2. C. NMNHU-P 29/1708, Popovo 3. D. NMNHU-P 29/1045, Verkhnya Krynitsya 2. E. NMNHU-P 41/4498, Egorovka 2. F. NMNHU-P 41/4329, Egorovka 1. G. NMNHU-P 38/1964, Novoukrainka 1. I. NMNHU-P 41/2466, Pontian Lectostratotype. J. NMNHU-P 41/2742, Vinogradovka 1. K. NMNHU-P 53/4395, Bol’shevik 2. L. NMNHU-P 29/380, Lysa Gora 1. M. NMNHU-P 53/4388, Semibalka 1. N. NMNHU-P 42/2458, Vinogradovka 2. O. NMNHU-P 53/4281, Obukhovka 2. P. NMNHU-P 53/4344, Zhevakhova Gora. Q. NMNHU-P 29/627, Verkhnya Krynitsya 1. R. NMNHU-P 42/2463, Kotlovina 2. S. NMNHU-P 53/4406, Medzhibozh. T. NMNHU-P 42/2472, Kotlovina 3. H. Left palatine (NMNHU-P 33/517), Andreevka, occlusal view. Scale bars: C, D, H–O, R, S, T, 5 mm; A, B, E, F, P, Q, 4 mm; G, 3 mm.