Butyrumichthys henricii gen. et sp. nov. a new stromateiform fish from the lower Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

A new genus and species of stromateiform fish, Butyrumichthys henricii gen. et sp. nov., from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark is described. The description is based on six well-preserved, almost complete articulated skeletons plus a well-preserved head. All the specimens originate from the carbonate concretion horizons of the Fur Formation. The fossils were investigated also through element-mapping of strontium and phosphorus using a micro-XRF spectrometer in order to expose and enhance the skeletal anatomy. Butyrumichthys gen. nov. exhibits a unique combination of characters that support its recognition as a new stromateoiform genus, including jaws with uniserially arranged, small conical teeth, preopercle with at least 15 prominent spines, 37–38 (17–18 + 20) vertebrae, dorsal fin with 5–6 weak spines and 27–28 soft rays, and anal fin with two spines and 19–20 soft rays. The new fossil stromateoid described herein shows several morphological similarities to certain species of the genus Schedophilus Cocco, 1839, especially S. pemarco (Poll, 1959) and S. medusophagus (Cocco, 1839), and is tentatively referred to the family Centrolophidae. The exceptionally preserved fossil fishes of the Fur Formation increase our knowledge of the diversity of Paleogene marine teleosts, also providing some of the earliest occurrences of modern lineages based on articulated skeletal remains, including that of the stromateiforms.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummere2171798
TidsskriftJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Vol/bind42
Udgave nummer3
Antal sider17
ISSN0272-4634
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
We wish to thank R. L. Sylvestersen (Fur Museum, Museum Salling, Denmark), H. Madsen (Fossil and Mo-clay Museum, Museum Mors, Denmark) and B. E. K. Lindow (Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen University) for access to fossil material housed in the respective collections and loans. H. Madsen is cordially thanked for collecting and acid preparing the holotype specimen, which was declared Danekræ fossil trove in 2020. S. T. Nielsen is greatly acknowledged for initially lending us his specimen E100401_1; a specimen he later generously donated to the Natural History Museum of Denmark so it could be included in this and future scientific research (now valid as NHMD-1177206). Many thanks to B. E. K. Lindow and T. Thunø (Natural History Museum, Denmark, Copenhagen University) for taking care of the official donation form. AES wishes to thank M. Storey (Natural History Museum, Denmark, Copenhagen University) for access to and being part of Quadlab, and D. K. P. Wielandt (Natural History Museum, Denmark, Copenhagen University and DANAK) for teaching her how to operate the M4 Tornado Benchtop micro-XRF spectrometer (Bruker, Germany). This research was supported by the Innovation Fund Denmark (8118-00005B), Kulturministeriets Forskningsmidler (FORM.2019-0028), and by two personal grants (Japetus Steenstrup legat) to AES. The research of GC was supported by grants (ex-60% 2021 and 2022) from the Università degli Studi di Torino. K. M. Cantalice and D. Davesne are thanked for suggestions and constructive comments.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.

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