Acta Musei Moraviae

Isolated fish scales (Teleostei) from the Paleogene and Neogene sediments of the Central Paratethys (Czech Republic, Slovak Republic)

Isolated scales and parts of the squamation were analyzed from the Paleogene and Neogene sediments of the Central Paratethys (Oligocene to Miocene, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic). The structure and morphology of the scales could be studied in detail due to their excellent preservation. This paper presents the fish scales from the families Clupeidae, Sternoptychidae, Myctophidae, Zeidae, Gadiformes fam. indet, Gadidae, Merluciidae, Macrouridae, Trachichthyidae, Holocentridae, Gobiidae, Echeneidae, Sphyraenidae, Palaeorhynchidae, Scopthalmidae, Syngnathidae, Scombridae, Euzaphlegidae, Leiognathidae, Percoidei fam. indet., Triglidae, Moronidae, Sparidae, Caproidae, Ostraciidae and Teleostei gen. indet. 1, 2, 3. This comparative analysis shows that isolated remnants have important taxonomic value and helps in the identification of incomplete fish skeletons. Four principal scale type are described in the paper: true cycloid: Oligophus moravicus, Gadiformes fam. indet., Paleogadus sp. 1, 2, ? Paleomolva sp., Palimphyes sp., Leiognathoides sp., Sphyraena sp., Palaeorhynchus sp., Echeneidae gen. indet.; cycloid crenate: Maicopiella longimana, Alosa sp., cycloid spinoid: Coelorinchus sp., Gephyroberyx cf. darwinii, Holocentridae gen. indet., Scopthalmidae gen. indet., Triglidae gen. indet., Capros sp.; ctenoid: Diplodus sp., Gobius jarosi, Moronidae gen. indet., Percoidei gen indet.; specialised scales: Argyropelecus priscus, Syngnathus sp., Gephyroberyx cf. darwinii, Zenopsis clarus, Oligolactoria bubiki.