<i> Pseudophichthys</i> sp. Fig. 69 K–L<i> Otolithus</i> (<i> Solea... more <i> Pseudophichthys</i> sp. Fig. 69 K–L<i> Otolithus</i> (<i> Solea</i>)<i> glaber</i> Koken, 1888: 293, pl. 18, fig. 3.<i> Otolithus</i> (<i> Solea</i>)<i> glaber</i> – Campbell 1929a: 274–275, pl. 29, fig. 3 "<i> genus</i> aff.<i> Pseudophichthys</i> "<i> glaber</i> – Nolf 1985: 43. — Müller 1999: 82.<i> Pseudophichthys glaber</i> – Nolf &amp; Stringer 2003: 4, pl. 1, figs 13a–18. Material examined UNITED STATES OF AMERICA –<b> Alabama</b> • 1 otolith; MSC 37059.2. Description Sagitta with oval to elliptic outline (sensu Smale<i> et al.</i> 1995); margins smooth. Height/length ratio equals 56%. Inner face very slightly convex. Sulcus of inner face undivided, slants very slightly in posteroventral direction. Sulcus reaches anterior margin, possibly through shallow ostial channel, extends approximately 75% of length. Anterior and posterior ends of sulcus tapering. Fairly conspicuous depressed area above sulcus. Remarks The singular specimen available to us is broken, but the undivided sulcus allows us to identify it as congrid, and other preserved features identify it as<i> Pseudophichthys</i>. However, determination to the species level was not possible, although it is very similar to<i> Pseudophichthys glaber</i> from the Eocene of Louisiana ( Nolf &amp; Stringer 2003). Stratigraphic and geographic range in Alabama Only one broken specimen of<i> Pseudophichthys</i> sp. was recovered from the "upper" Lisbon Formation at site ACh-7. Bartonian, zones NP16 and NP17.
<i> Eoplinthicus yazooensis</i> Cappetta &amp; Stringer, 2002 Fig. 54<i> Eo... more <i> Eoplinthicus yazooensis</i> Cappetta &amp; Stringer, 2002 Fig. 54<i> Eoplinthicus yazooensis</i> Cappetta &amp; Stringer, 2002: 51–56, pl. 1. Material examined UNITED STATES OF AMERICA –<b> Alabama</b> • 1 isolated tooth; Claiborne Group; ALMNH PV1985.35.65. Description A single median tooth is represented in our sample. Tooth is very wide, but labiolingually thin, sixsided. Occlusal surface concave across nearly the entire width; occlusal surface outlined by a sharp, irregular rim. In oral view, crown is conspicuously smaller in area than the crown base. Labial crown face concave, with lower half projecting labially and upper half nearly vertical. Lingual face vertical and straight, slight lingual projection at the crown foot. Very base of lingual crown bears weak transverse ridge immediately above the root. All crown faces with coarse ornamentation of vertical anastomosing and interconnected ridges that become finer apically. Polyaulocorhize root as high as the crown. Labial and lingual faces nearly vertical; 13 narrow lobes are separated by 12 nutritive grooves. Remarks When originally described,<i> Eoplinthicus</i> was not directly differentiated from<i> Burnhamia</i>, possibly because the two genera were not known to co-occur within the Yazoo Clay ( Cappetta &amp; Stringer 2002). However, both<i> Eoplinthicus</i> and<i> Burnhamia</i> were collected from the upper Gosport Sand (see above), and a differential diagnosis is provided here.<i> Eoplinthicus yazooensis</i> is now known from three teeth (including two from the Yazoo Clay), all of which can be distinguished from<i> Burnhamia</i> by having an occlusal surface that is significantly smaller in area than the crown base. In contrast, the occlusal surface on<i> Burnhamia</i> teeth is equal to, or only slightly smaller in area than, the crown base. Additionally, the lower half of the labial face of<i> E. yazooensis</i> is broadly rounded, whereas on<i> Burnhamia</i> the labial crown foot is developed into a sharp horizontal or basally directed projection [...]
Pedo-i, Organization pt. No. ind Cnry 'ringpr DARC 0 Report 9. Performing Organization Name and A... more Pedo-i, Organization pt. No. ind Cnry 'ringpr DARC 0 Report 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Project/Task/Work Unit No.
Drilling rig used in the geotechnical investigations at Cabot, Lonoke County, Arkansas, USA, by t... more Drilling rig used in the geotechnical investigations at Cabot, Lonoke County, Arkansas, USA, by the Arkansas Department of Transportation that produced subsurface samples of the Arkadelphia Formation (Upper Cretaceous, upper Maastrichtian) that contained teleostean otoliths. Inset is the holotype of Palaeogadus? belli, a new species of gadiform fish recovered from the project. Scale bar=1mm.
The fortuitous discovery of Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) teleostean otoliths in boring samples... more The fortuitous discovery of Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) teleostean otoliths in boring samples (17-31 m below ground level) from the Arkadelphia Formation near Cabot, Arkansas, USA, has consequential and overarching ramifications. The otolith assemblage, which is relatively large with 2,109 specimens, represents the first Mesozoic otolith assemblage described from Arkansas and one of the largest Cretaceous assemblages from a single USA site. The diversity of the assemblage is fairly large with a richness of 19 species with three additional taxa in open nomenclature and one unknown lapillus, which more than doubles the known actinoptergians from the Arkadelphia Formation. The otolith assemblage is extremely uneven in its diversity with one species, a putative siluriform Vorhisia vulpes Frizzell (1965b), accounting for approximately 73% of the total. The most unique feature of the otolith assemblage is the presence of cool-water gadiforms, which represent approximately 7.6% of the total assemblage. The presence of the gadiforms is related to the effects of the Western Interior Seaway and paleogeography during the Late Cretaceous in the western Gulf Coastal Plain. The gadiforms may represent relicts of a greater population and distribution in the early Maastrichtian. Percentage similarity measurements of the otolith assemblage indicate that the Arkadelphia Formation is more closely related to the Severn Formation in eastern Maryland (57.86%) and the Kemp Clay Formation in northeast Texas (35.77%) than to the Ripley Formation in northeastern Mississippi (5.34%). The similarity measurements and other factors indicate that the Arkadelphia Formation otolith assemblage belongs to the Western Interior Seaway community (bioprovince). The Arkadelphia Formation otolith assemblage also contains several taxa that become extinct, such as the ubiquitous V. vulpes, at the K-Pg extinction event. The otoliths point to a very shallow marine environment (possibly inner shelf; less than 20 m in depth) with estuarine and freshwater input nearby and may be utilized for refinement of paleoshorelines for the southern reaches of the Western Interior Seaway during the Late Cretaceous.
An 11-mound site in Louisiana predates other known mound complexes with earthen enclosures in Nor... more An 11-mound site in Louisiana predates other known mound complexes with earthen enclosures in North America by 1900 years. Radiometric, luminescence, artifactual, geomorphic, and pedogenic data date the site to over 5000 calendar years before present. Evidence suggests that the site was occupied by hunter-gatherers who seasonally exploited aquatic resources and collected plant species that later became the first domesticates in eastern North America.
Middle Archaic earthen mound complexes in the lower Mississippi valley are remote antecedents of ... more Middle Archaic earthen mound complexes in the lower Mississippi valley are remote antecedents of the famous but much younger Poverty Point earthworks. Watson Brake is the largest and most complex of these early mound sites. Very extensive coring and stratigraphic studies, aided by 25 radiocarbon dates and six luminescence dates, show that minor earthworks were begun here at ca. 3500 B.C. in association with an oval arrangement of burned rock middens at the edge of a stream terrace. The full extent of the first earthworks is not yet known. Substantial moundraising began ca. 3350 B.C. and continued in stages until some time after 3000 B.C. when the site was abandoned. All 11 mounds and their connecting ridges were occupied between building bursts. Soils formed on some of these temporary surfaces, while lithics, fire-cracked rock, and fired clay/loam objects became scattered throughout the mound fills. Faunal and floral remains from a basal midden indicate all-season occupation, suppor...
In 1974, Fiersline and Applegate described a new species of billfish, Xiphiorhynchus kimblalocki,... more In 1974, Fiersline and Applegate described a new species of billfish, Xiphiorhynchus kimblalocki, based on a rostrum, two vertebrae, and two partial fin spines, from the Yazoo Clay For mation, late Eoccne, Mississippi, U.S.A. This was the first sub stantiated record of Xiphiorhynchus van Beneden, 1871, outside of western Europe. Since this initial discovery, there have been three other records of Xiphiorhynchus in the United States. Based on four rostral fragments, Breard and Stringer (1995) listed Xiphiorhynchus among the numerous marine vertebrates they collected in the Yazoo Clay Formation, late Eocene, Loui siana. There was no formal description and identification was restricted to the generic level. Fierstine and Starnes (2005) iden tified X. cf. X. eocaenicus (Woodward, 1901), in the Moodys Branch Formation, middle Eocene, Mississippi, based on com parison with X. eocaenicus (Woodward, 1901), from the Brack lesham Beds, middle Eocene, England. Monsch and colleagues (2005) confirmed that the holotype of X. rotundus (Woodward, 1901), a featureless, phosphate impregnated rostrum with a vague provenance, was collected in the late Oligocene or early Miocene of the Charleston region, Soulh Carolina. Here we report new specimens (three partial rostra) of Xi phiorhynchus that were collected in the Yazoo Clay Formation, late Eocene, Louisiana, U.S.A. Two of the better preserved specimens are identified as X. kimblalocki, and although the third specimen is poorly preserved and only identified to genus, il belongs to a species distinct from X. kimblalocki. We compare all three specimens to other species of Xiphiorhynchus and discuss the difficulty in confirming the identity of rostra that have been referred to X. priscus (Agassiz, 1844) because the holotype of X. priscus is a poorly preserved skull without a ros trum. CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk
Ebersole, J.A., Cicimurri, D.J. and Stringer, G.L. 2021. Marine fishes (Elasmobranchii, Teleostei... more Ebersole, J.A., Cicimurri, D.J. and Stringer, G.L. 2021. Marine fishes (Elasmobranchii, Teleostei) from the Glendon Limestone Member of the Byram Formation (Oligocene, Rupelian) at site AWa-9, Washington County, Alabama, USA, including a new species of gobiid (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae). Acta Geologica Polonica, 71 (4), 481–518. The Oligocene (Rupelian) Byram Formation (Vicksburg Group) in Alabama, USA, is divided into three members, including (in ascending order) the Glendon Limestone, unnamed marl, and the Bucatunna Clay. The Oligocene marine units in Alabama have been historically under-investigated, but bulk samples recently obtained from Glendon Limestone Member exposures at site AWa-9 in Washington County yielded 20 unequivocal elasmobranch and teleost taxa. This surprisingly diverse paleofauna, based on isolated teeth, bones and otoliths, includes the new taxon, Gobiosoma? axsmithi sp. nov., as well as “Aetomylaeus” sp., Albula sp., Aplodinotus gemma Koken, 1888, Ariosoma nonsect...
Otolith assemblages have rarely been studied across the K-Pg boundary. The late Maastrichtian Kem... more Otolith assemblages have rarely been studied across the K-Pg boundary. The late Maastrichtian Kemp Clay of northeastern Texas and the Fox Hills Formation of North Dakota, and the early Danian Clayton Formation of Arkansas therefore offer new insights into how teleost fishes managed across the K-Pg boundary as reconstructed from their otoliths. The Kemp Clay contains 25 species, with 6 new species and 2 in open nomenclature and the Fox Hills Formation contains 4 species including 1 new species. The two otolith associations constitute the Western Interior Seaway (WIS) community. It contains the earliest unambiguous representatives of the Gadiformes (cods and hakes) and the Heterenchelyidae (mud eels). The WIS community differs significantly from other Maastrichtian otolith assemblages previously studied from Mississippi and Maryland, which constitute the Appalachian community, with only 4 shared species (similarity percentage of 7.3%) between both communities. The difference is interp...
Bulk sampling and extensive, systematic surface collecting of the Coon Creek Member of the Ripley... more Bulk sampling and extensive, systematic surface collecting of the Coon Creek Member of the Ripley Formation (early Maastrichtian) at the Blue Springs locality and primarily bulk sampling of the Owl Creek Formation (late Maastrichtian) at the Owl Creek type locality, both in northeast Mississippi, USA, have produced the largest and most highly diversified actinopterygian otolith (ear stone) assemblage described from the Mesozoic of North America. The 3,802 otoliths represent 30 taxa of bony fishes representing at least 22 families. In addition, there were two different morphological types of lapilli, which were not identifiable to species level. The large number of otolith specimens as well as the preservation contributed to the recognition of 4 new genera and 13 new species. The otoliths supplied information regarding the presence of bony fishes not available solely on the basis of osteological remains, and the Late Cretaceous bony fish assemblage at the sites would be underestimate...
... Gary L. Stringer1, Sylvester Q. Breard2, Mervin Kontrovitz1. ABSTRACT. The type locality of t... more ... Gary L. Stringer1, Sylvester Q. Breard2, Mervin Kontrovitz1. ABSTRACT. The type locality of the Oligocene Rosefield Marl Beds (Mosley Hill Formation, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana) has been collected since the early 1900&amp;amp;amp;#x27;s. ...
In 1974, Fiersline and Applegate described a new species of billfish, Xiphiorhynchus kimblalocki,... more In 1974, Fiersline and Applegate described a new species of billfish, Xiphiorhynchus kimblalocki, based on a rostrum, two vertebrae, and two partial fin spines, from the Yazoo Clay For mation, late Eoccne, Mississippi, U.S.A. This was the first sub stantiated record of Xiphiorhynchus van Beneden, 1871, outside of western Europe. Since this initial discovery, there have been three other records of Xiphiorhynchus in the United States. Based on four rostral fragments, Breard and Stringer (1995) listed Xiphiorhynchus among the numerous marine vertebrates they collected in the Yazoo Clay Formation, late Eocene, Loui siana. There was no formal description and identification was restricted to the generic level. Fierstine and Starnes (2005) iden tified X. cf. X. eocaenicus (Woodward, 1901), in the Moodys Branch Formation, middle Eocene, Mississippi, based on com parison with X. eocaenicus (Woodward, 1901), from the Brack lesham Beds, middle Eocene, England. Monsch and colleagues (2005) confirmed that the holotype of X. rotundus (Woodward, 1901), a featureless, phosphate impregnated rostrum with a vague provenance, was collected in the late Oligocene or early Miocene of the Charleston region, Soulh Carolina. Here we report new specimens (three partial rostra) of Xi phiorhynchus that were collected in the Yazoo Clay Formation, late Eocene, Louisiana, U.S.A. Two of the better preserved specimens are identified as X. kimblalocki, and although the third specimen is poorly preserved and only identified to genus, il belongs to a species distinct from X. kimblalocki. We compare all three specimens to other species of Xiphiorhynchus and discuss the difficulty in confirming the identity of rostra that have been referred to X. priscus (Agassiz, 1844) because the holotype of X. priscus is a poorly preserved skull without a ros trum.
<i> Pseudophichthys</i> sp. Fig. 69 K–L<i> Otolithus</i> (<i> Solea... more <i> Pseudophichthys</i> sp. Fig. 69 K–L<i> Otolithus</i> (<i> Solea</i>)<i> glaber</i> Koken, 1888: 293, pl. 18, fig. 3.<i> Otolithus</i> (<i> Solea</i>)<i> glaber</i> – Campbell 1929a: 274–275, pl. 29, fig. 3 "<i> genus</i> aff.<i> Pseudophichthys</i> "<i> glaber</i> – Nolf 1985: 43. — Müller 1999: 82.<i> Pseudophichthys glaber</i> – Nolf &amp; Stringer 2003: 4, pl. 1, figs 13a–18. Material examined UNITED STATES OF AMERICA –<b> Alabama</b> • 1 otolith; MSC 37059.2. Description Sagitta with oval to elliptic outline (sensu Smale<i> et al.</i> 1995); margins smooth. Height/length ratio equals 56%. Inner face very slightly convex. Sulcus of inner face undivided, slants very slightly in posteroventral direction. Sulcus reaches anterior margin, possibly through shallow ostial channel, extends approximately 75% of length. Anterior and posterior ends of sulcus tapering. Fairly conspicuous depressed area above sulcus. Remarks The singular specimen available to us is broken, but the undivided sulcus allows us to identify it as congrid, and other preserved features identify it as<i> Pseudophichthys</i>. However, determination to the species level was not possible, although it is very similar to<i> Pseudophichthys glaber</i> from the Eocene of Louisiana ( Nolf &amp; Stringer 2003). Stratigraphic and geographic range in Alabama Only one broken specimen of<i> Pseudophichthys</i> sp. was recovered from the "upper" Lisbon Formation at site ACh-7. Bartonian, zones NP16 and NP17.
<i> Eoplinthicus yazooensis</i> Cappetta &amp; Stringer, 2002 Fig. 54<i> Eo... more <i> Eoplinthicus yazooensis</i> Cappetta &amp; Stringer, 2002 Fig. 54<i> Eoplinthicus yazooensis</i> Cappetta &amp; Stringer, 2002: 51–56, pl. 1. Material examined UNITED STATES OF AMERICA –<b> Alabama</b> • 1 isolated tooth; Claiborne Group; ALMNH PV1985.35.65. Description A single median tooth is represented in our sample. Tooth is very wide, but labiolingually thin, sixsided. Occlusal surface concave across nearly the entire width; occlusal surface outlined by a sharp, irregular rim. In oral view, crown is conspicuously smaller in area than the crown base. Labial crown face concave, with lower half projecting labially and upper half nearly vertical. Lingual face vertical and straight, slight lingual projection at the crown foot. Very base of lingual crown bears weak transverse ridge immediately above the root. All crown faces with coarse ornamentation of vertical anastomosing and interconnected ridges that become finer apically. Polyaulocorhize root as high as the crown. Labial and lingual faces nearly vertical; 13 narrow lobes are separated by 12 nutritive grooves. Remarks When originally described,<i> Eoplinthicus</i> was not directly differentiated from<i> Burnhamia</i>, possibly because the two genera were not known to co-occur within the Yazoo Clay ( Cappetta &amp; Stringer 2002). However, both<i> Eoplinthicus</i> and<i> Burnhamia</i> were collected from the upper Gosport Sand (see above), and a differential diagnosis is provided here.<i> Eoplinthicus yazooensis</i> is now known from three teeth (including two from the Yazoo Clay), all of which can be distinguished from<i> Burnhamia</i> by having an occlusal surface that is significantly smaller in area than the crown base. In contrast, the occlusal surface on<i> Burnhamia</i> teeth is equal to, or only slightly smaller in area than, the crown base. Additionally, the lower half of the labial face of<i> E. yazooensis</i> is broadly rounded, whereas on<i> Burnhamia</i> the labial crown foot is developed into a sharp horizontal or basally directed projection [...]
Pedo-i, Organization pt. No. ind Cnry 'ringpr DARC 0 Report 9. Performing Organization Name and A... more Pedo-i, Organization pt. No. ind Cnry 'ringpr DARC 0 Report 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Project/Task/Work Unit No.
Drilling rig used in the geotechnical investigations at Cabot, Lonoke County, Arkansas, USA, by t... more Drilling rig used in the geotechnical investigations at Cabot, Lonoke County, Arkansas, USA, by the Arkansas Department of Transportation that produced subsurface samples of the Arkadelphia Formation (Upper Cretaceous, upper Maastrichtian) that contained teleostean otoliths. Inset is the holotype of Palaeogadus? belli, a new species of gadiform fish recovered from the project. Scale bar=1mm.
The fortuitous discovery of Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) teleostean otoliths in boring samples... more The fortuitous discovery of Cretaceous (late Maastrichtian) teleostean otoliths in boring samples (17-31 m below ground level) from the Arkadelphia Formation near Cabot, Arkansas, USA, has consequential and overarching ramifications. The otolith assemblage, which is relatively large with 2,109 specimens, represents the first Mesozoic otolith assemblage described from Arkansas and one of the largest Cretaceous assemblages from a single USA site. The diversity of the assemblage is fairly large with a richness of 19 species with three additional taxa in open nomenclature and one unknown lapillus, which more than doubles the known actinoptergians from the Arkadelphia Formation. The otolith assemblage is extremely uneven in its diversity with one species, a putative siluriform Vorhisia vulpes Frizzell (1965b), accounting for approximately 73% of the total. The most unique feature of the otolith assemblage is the presence of cool-water gadiforms, which represent approximately 7.6% of the total assemblage. The presence of the gadiforms is related to the effects of the Western Interior Seaway and paleogeography during the Late Cretaceous in the western Gulf Coastal Plain. The gadiforms may represent relicts of a greater population and distribution in the early Maastrichtian. Percentage similarity measurements of the otolith assemblage indicate that the Arkadelphia Formation is more closely related to the Severn Formation in eastern Maryland (57.86%) and the Kemp Clay Formation in northeast Texas (35.77%) than to the Ripley Formation in northeastern Mississippi (5.34%). The similarity measurements and other factors indicate that the Arkadelphia Formation otolith assemblage belongs to the Western Interior Seaway community (bioprovince). The Arkadelphia Formation otolith assemblage also contains several taxa that become extinct, such as the ubiquitous V. vulpes, at the K-Pg extinction event. The otoliths point to a very shallow marine environment (possibly inner shelf; less than 20 m in depth) with estuarine and freshwater input nearby and may be utilized for refinement of paleoshorelines for the southern reaches of the Western Interior Seaway during the Late Cretaceous.
An 11-mound site in Louisiana predates other known mound complexes with earthen enclosures in Nor... more An 11-mound site in Louisiana predates other known mound complexes with earthen enclosures in North America by 1900 years. Radiometric, luminescence, artifactual, geomorphic, and pedogenic data date the site to over 5000 calendar years before present. Evidence suggests that the site was occupied by hunter-gatherers who seasonally exploited aquatic resources and collected plant species that later became the first domesticates in eastern North America.
Middle Archaic earthen mound complexes in the lower Mississippi valley are remote antecedents of ... more Middle Archaic earthen mound complexes in the lower Mississippi valley are remote antecedents of the famous but much younger Poverty Point earthworks. Watson Brake is the largest and most complex of these early mound sites. Very extensive coring and stratigraphic studies, aided by 25 radiocarbon dates and six luminescence dates, show that minor earthworks were begun here at ca. 3500 B.C. in association with an oval arrangement of burned rock middens at the edge of a stream terrace. The full extent of the first earthworks is not yet known. Substantial moundraising began ca. 3350 B.C. and continued in stages until some time after 3000 B.C. when the site was abandoned. All 11 mounds and their connecting ridges were occupied between building bursts. Soils formed on some of these temporary surfaces, while lithics, fire-cracked rock, and fired clay/loam objects became scattered throughout the mound fills. Faunal and floral remains from a basal midden indicate all-season occupation, suppor...
In 1974, Fiersline and Applegate described a new species of billfish, Xiphiorhynchus kimblalocki,... more In 1974, Fiersline and Applegate described a new species of billfish, Xiphiorhynchus kimblalocki, based on a rostrum, two vertebrae, and two partial fin spines, from the Yazoo Clay For mation, late Eoccne, Mississippi, U.S.A. This was the first sub stantiated record of Xiphiorhynchus van Beneden, 1871, outside of western Europe. Since this initial discovery, there have been three other records of Xiphiorhynchus in the United States. Based on four rostral fragments, Breard and Stringer (1995) listed Xiphiorhynchus among the numerous marine vertebrates they collected in the Yazoo Clay Formation, late Eocene, Loui siana. There was no formal description and identification was restricted to the generic level. Fierstine and Starnes (2005) iden tified X. cf. X. eocaenicus (Woodward, 1901), in the Moodys Branch Formation, middle Eocene, Mississippi, based on com parison with X. eocaenicus (Woodward, 1901), from the Brack lesham Beds, middle Eocene, England. Monsch and colleagues (2005) confirmed that the holotype of X. rotundus (Woodward, 1901), a featureless, phosphate impregnated rostrum with a vague provenance, was collected in the late Oligocene or early Miocene of the Charleston region, Soulh Carolina. Here we report new specimens (three partial rostra) of Xi phiorhynchus that were collected in the Yazoo Clay Formation, late Eocene, Louisiana, U.S.A. Two of the better preserved specimens are identified as X. kimblalocki, and although the third specimen is poorly preserved and only identified to genus, il belongs to a species distinct from X. kimblalocki. We compare all three specimens to other species of Xiphiorhynchus and discuss the difficulty in confirming the identity of rostra that have been referred to X. priscus (Agassiz, 1844) because the holotype of X. priscus is a poorly preserved skull without a ros trum. CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk
Ebersole, J.A., Cicimurri, D.J. and Stringer, G.L. 2021. Marine fishes (Elasmobranchii, Teleostei... more Ebersole, J.A., Cicimurri, D.J. and Stringer, G.L. 2021. Marine fishes (Elasmobranchii, Teleostei) from the Glendon Limestone Member of the Byram Formation (Oligocene, Rupelian) at site AWa-9, Washington County, Alabama, USA, including a new species of gobiid (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae). Acta Geologica Polonica, 71 (4), 481–518. The Oligocene (Rupelian) Byram Formation (Vicksburg Group) in Alabama, USA, is divided into three members, including (in ascending order) the Glendon Limestone, unnamed marl, and the Bucatunna Clay. The Oligocene marine units in Alabama have been historically under-investigated, but bulk samples recently obtained from Glendon Limestone Member exposures at site AWa-9 in Washington County yielded 20 unequivocal elasmobranch and teleost taxa. This surprisingly diverse paleofauna, based on isolated teeth, bones and otoliths, includes the new taxon, Gobiosoma? axsmithi sp. nov., as well as “Aetomylaeus” sp., Albula sp., Aplodinotus gemma Koken, 1888, Ariosoma nonsect...
Otolith assemblages have rarely been studied across the K-Pg boundary. The late Maastrichtian Kem... more Otolith assemblages have rarely been studied across the K-Pg boundary. The late Maastrichtian Kemp Clay of northeastern Texas and the Fox Hills Formation of North Dakota, and the early Danian Clayton Formation of Arkansas therefore offer new insights into how teleost fishes managed across the K-Pg boundary as reconstructed from their otoliths. The Kemp Clay contains 25 species, with 6 new species and 2 in open nomenclature and the Fox Hills Formation contains 4 species including 1 new species. The two otolith associations constitute the Western Interior Seaway (WIS) community. It contains the earliest unambiguous representatives of the Gadiformes (cods and hakes) and the Heterenchelyidae (mud eels). The WIS community differs significantly from other Maastrichtian otolith assemblages previously studied from Mississippi and Maryland, which constitute the Appalachian community, with only 4 shared species (similarity percentage of 7.3%) between both communities. The difference is interp...
Bulk sampling and extensive, systematic surface collecting of the Coon Creek Member of the Ripley... more Bulk sampling and extensive, systematic surface collecting of the Coon Creek Member of the Ripley Formation (early Maastrichtian) at the Blue Springs locality and primarily bulk sampling of the Owl Creek Formation (late Maastrichtian) at the Owl Creek type locality, both in northeast Mississippi, USA, have produced the largest and most highly diversified actinopterygian otolith (ear stone) assemblage described from the Mesozoic of North America. The 3,802 otoliths represent 30 taxa of bony fishes representing at least 22 families. In addition, there were two different morphological types of lapilli, which were not identifiable to species level. The large number of otolith specimens as well as the preservation contributed to the recognition of 4 new genera and 13 new species. The otoliths supplied information regarding the presence of bony fishes not available solely on the basis of osteological remains, and the Late Cretaceous bony fish assemblage at the sites would be underestimate...
... Gary L. Stringer1, Sylvester Q. Breard2, Mervin Kontrovitz1. ABSTRACT. The type locality of t... more ... Gary L. Stringer1, Sylvester Q. Breard2, Mervin Kontrovitz1. ABSTRACT. The type locality of the Oligocene Rosefield Marl Beds (Mosley Hill Formation, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana) has been collected since the early 1900&amp;amp;amp;#x27;s. ...
In 1974, Fiersline and Applegate described a new species of billfish, Xiphiorhynchus kimblalocki,... more In 1974, Fiersline and Applegate described a new species of billfish, Xiphiorhynchus kimblalocki, based on a rostrum, two vertebrae, and two partial fin spines, from the Yazoo Clay For mation, late Eoccne, Mississippi, U.S.A. This was the first sub stantiated record of Xiphiorhynchus van Beneden, 1871, outside of western Europe. Since this initial discovery, there have been three other records of Xiphiorhynchus in the United States. Based on four rostral fragments, Breard and Stringer (1995) listed Xiphiorhynchus among the numerous marine vertebrates they collected in the Yazoo Clay Formation, late Eocene, Loui siana. There was no formal description and identification was restricted to the generic level. Fierstine and Starnes (2005) iden tified X. cf. X. eocaenicus (Woodward, 1901), in the Moodys Branch Formation, middle Eocene, Mississippi, based on com parison with X. eocaenicus (Woodward, 1901), from the Brack lesham Beds, middle Eocene, England. Monsch and colleagues (2005) confirmed that the holotype of X. rotundus (Woodward, 1901), a featureless, phosphate impregnated rostrum with a vague provenance, was collected in the late Oligocene or early Miocene of the Charleston region, Soulh Carolina. Here we report new specimens (three partial rostra) of Xi phiorhynchus that were collected in the Yazoo Clay Formation, late Eocene, Louisiana, U.S.A. Two of the better preserved specimens are identified as X. kimblalocki, and although the third specimen is poorly preserved and only identified to genus, il belongs to a species distinct from X. kimblalocki. We compare all three specimens to other species of Xiphiorhynchus and discuss the difficulty in confirming the identity of rostra that have been referred to X. priscus (Agassiz, 1844) because the holotype of X. priscus is a poorly preserved skull without a ros trum.
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