Alaconger fornicatus ( Frizzell & Lamber, 1962 )

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 : 30-31

Alaconger fornicatus ( Frizzell & Lamber, 1962)

Fig. 8M–N

“ Conger ” fornicatus Frizzell & Lamber, 1962: 96 , figs 3a–b, 9a–d.

“genus Congridarum ” fornicatus – Nolf 1985: 44.

“ Congrida ” fornicata – Nolf 2013: 36, pl. 26.

Remarks

The otoliths of A. fornicatus are characterized by a salient angle in the middle of both their dorsal and ventral rims. This provides them with a very recognizable overall lozenge shape (rhombus- or diamond-shaped). This feature is not seen in otoliths of any of the extant congrid genera, but a somewhat similar looking shape is seen in the Maastrichtian Alaconger triquetrus Schwarzhans, 2010 from the Gerhartsreiter Beds in Bavaria, Germany ( Schwarzhans 2010). This Maastrichtian species, however, has a higher dorsal expansion and does not show the very salient anterior and posterior ends seen in A. fornicatus .

Stratigraphic and geographic distribution

Priabonian: Yazoo Clay, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Figures

Fig. 8. Fish otoliths from the US middle and upper Eocene. A–B. Albula sp. (IRSNB P 9957–9958). A. Weches F., Wall Farm 2, Texas. B. “Stone City beds”, Alabama Ferry, on Trinity River, North, Texas. C–D. Elopothrissus bernardlemorti sp. nov., “Stone City beds”, Texas. C. Alabama Ferry, on Trinity River, North, holotype (IRSNB P 9959), D. Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, sample 2 from bed P, paratype (IRSNB P 9960). E–H. Pythonichthys colei (Müller, 1999). E–F. Landrum M., Pin Oak Creek, Texas (IRSNB P 9961–9962). G–H. “Stone City beds”, Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, Texas (IRSNB P 9963–9964). I–L. Pterothrissus umbonatus (Koken, 1884), “Stone City beds”, Stone City Bluff, Brazos River, sample 2 from bed P, Texas (IRSNB P 9965–9968). M–N. Alaconger fornicatus (Frizzell & Lamber, 1962), Shubuta Clay M., Cynthia, Mississippi Lite clay pit, Mississippi (IRSNB P 10005–10006). 1 = ventral view; 2 = inner view. Scale bars = 1 mm.