Eocene relatives of cod icefishes (Perciformes: Notothenioidei) from Seymour Island, Antarctica

TY - JOUR

T1 - Eocene relatives of cod icefishes (Perciformes: Notothenioidei) from Seymour Island, Antarctica

AU - Bieńkowska-Wasiluk, Małgorzata

AU - Bonde, Niels Christensøn

AU - Møller, Peter Rask

AU - Gaździcki, Andrzej

PY - 2013/6/3

Y1 - 2013/6/3

N2 - Fragmentary skull bones and vertebra from the Upper Eocene La Meseta Formation on Seymour (Marambio) Island, Antarctic Pen i nsula have been described as gadiform fishes, informally named "Mesetaichthys". Here we describe jaws as Mesetaichthys jerzmanskae n. gen. and n. sp., and refer this taxon to the perciform suborder Notothenioidei. This group is almost unknown as fossils. Similarities to the living, "primitive" nototheniid Dissostichus eleginoides are indicated in the dentition. Gadiform evolution in the Paleocene-Eocene is discussed, and the possibility of a correlation between the origin and evolution of notothenioids in connection with the deterioration of the climate in Antarctica during the Late Eocene-Oligocene is concluded.

AB - Fragmentary skull bones and vertebra from the Upper Eocene La Meseta Formation on Seymour (Marambio) Island, Antarctic Pen i nsula have been described as gadiform fishes, informally named "Mesetaichthys". Here we describe jaws as Mesetaichthys jerzmanskae n. gen. and n. sp., and refer this taxon to the perciform suborder Notothenioidei. This group is almost unknown as fossils. Similarities to the living, "primitive" nototheniid Dissostichus eleginoides are indicated in the dentition. Gadiform evolution in the Paleocene-Eocene is discussed, and the possibility of a correlation between the origin and evolution of notothenioids in connection with the deterioration of the climate in Antarctica during the Late Eocene-Oligocene is concluded.

U2 - 10.7306/gq.1112

DO - 10.7306/gq.1112

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1641-7291

VL - 57

SP - 567

EP - 582

JO - Geological Quarterly

JF - Geological Quarterly

IS - 4

ER -