Myripristis cajun, (Frizzell & Lamber, 1961)

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 : 47

“ Myripristis ” cajun ( Frizzell & Lamber, 1961)

Fig 15I–K

Weileria cajun Frizzell & Lamber, 1961: 20 , figs 6, 18–19.

“ genus Myripristinarum ” cajun – Nolf 1985: 72. — Müller 1999: 130, fig. 29/22.

“genus Myripristidarum” cajun – Nolf & Stringer 2003: 5, pl. 4 figs 1–2.

“ Myripristina ” cajun – Nolf 2013: 80, pl. 172.

Myripristis sp. – Ebersole et al. 2019: 194 , fig. 69q–r.

Remarks

This species was attributed to the extinct genus Weileria by Frizzell & Lamber (1961). This doubtful genus cannot be accepted, because its type species, W. louisiana from the Moodys Branch Formation of Louisiana, is a doubtful species based on an eroded holotype without true features ( Nolf 2013). Otoliths of “ M.” cajun have the following combination of features: a small, rounded ostium with restricted anterior extension, a gently curved ventral rim, and a strongly convex outer face that forms a thickset profile in the posterior portion. These features are not seen in the recent genus Myripristis . The species was not uncommon but never abundant in our material. Also, many of the myripristine specimens in the collection are rather eroded and do not allow an identification at species level.

Stratigraphic and geographic distribution

Lutetian: Weches Formation and “Stone City beds”, Texas; Cane River Formation, Louisiana; Piney Point Formation, Virginia. Bartonian: Wheelock Member, Texas; Moodys Branch Formation, Louisiana and Mississippi; Cook Mountain Formation, Mississippi; “upper” Lisbon Formation, Alabama. Priabonian: Yazoo Clay, Louisiana.

Figures

Fig. 15. Fish otoliths from the US middle and upper Eocene. A–D. Bregmaceros troelli (Dante & Frizzell, 1965). A–B. “Stone City beds”, Alabama Ferry on Trinity River, North, Texas (IRSNB P 10033–10034). C–D. Landrum M., Pin Oak Creek, Texas (IRSNB P 10035–10036). E–H. “Diretmus” serratus (Müller, 1999). E. “Stone City beds”, Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, sample 2 from bed P, Texas (IRSNB P 10037). F. “Stone City beds”, Alabama Ferry, on Trinity River, North, Texas (IRSNB P 10038). G–H. Wheelock M., Little Brazos River, Stenzel loc., Texas (IRSNB P 10039–10040). I–K. “Myripristis” cajun (Frizzell & Lamber, 1961). I. Wheelock M., Little Brazos River, Stenzel loc., Texas (IRSNB P 10041). J–K. “Stone City beds”, Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, Texas (IRSNB P 10042–10043). L–M. Carapus smithvillensis (Dante & Frizzell, 1965), “Stone City beds”, Alabama Ferry, on Trinity River, North, Texas (IRSNB P 10044–10045). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view. Scale bars = 1 mm.