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A new species of the sleeper goby (Gobioidei, Eleotridae) from the České Středohoří Mountains (Czech Republic, Oligocene) and analysis of the validity of the family Pirskeniidae

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Abstract

A new species of gobioid fish Pirskenius Obrhelová, 1961 (P. radoni sp. nov.) is described from Oligocene strata of the České Středohoří Mountains and compared with related species. The new species is characterized by a unique combination of characters that allow it to be separated from P. diatomaceus Obrhelová, 1961. The taxonomic position of the genus Pirskenius is discussed, and its affinity to the family Eleotridae is indicated. The new record documents, together with P. diatomaceus, the oldest known skeletal record of the Eleotridae.

Kurzfassung

Eine neue Art der gobioiden Fischgattung Pirskenius Obrhelová, 1961 (P. radoni sp. nov.) wird aus oligozänen Schichten des Böhmischen Mittelgebirges beschrieben und mit verwandten Arten verglichen. Die neue Art ist durch eine einzigartige Kombination von Merkmalen definiert, die sie von P. diatomaceus Obrhelová, 1961 unterscheidet. Die taxonomische Stellung der Gattung Pirskenius wird diskutiert und Affinitäten zu der Familie Eleotridae angenommen. Zusammen mit P. diatomaceus dokumentiert die neue Art die ältesten Skelett-Nachweise der Familie Eleotridae.

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Abbreviations

A:

Anal fin

ar:

Anguloarticular

BD:

Body depth

br:

Branchiostegal rays

C:

Caudal fin

ce:

Ceratohyal

CFL:

Caudal fin length

cl:

Cleithrum

CPD:

Caudal peduncle depth

CPL:

Caudal peduncle length

e:

Ethmoid

ect:

Ectopterygoid

ent:

Entopterygoid

epu:

Epural

fr:

Frontal

HD:

Head depth

hm:

Hyomandibular

HL:

Head length

hyp:

Hypural

ID:

First dorsal fin

IID:

Second dorsal fin

MCZ:

Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University

MT:

Museum of Teplice

mx:

Maxilla

ncr:

Neurocranium

NMP:

National Museum in Prague

op:

Operculum

P:

Pectoral fin

PA:

Preanal length

pa:

Palatine

PD1:

Predorsal (1) length

PD2:

Predorsal (2) length

pfr:

Pectoral fin rays

php:

Parhypural

pmx:

Premaxilla

pop:

Preoperculum

psph:

Parasphenoid

pst:

Posttemporal

q:

Quadrate

ra:

Radials

SL:

Standard length

sop:

Suboperculum

sy:

Symplectic

syf:

Symplectic foramen

TL:

Total length

V:

Ventral fin

v:

Vomer

vert:

Vertebrae

vfr:

Ventral fin rays

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Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge both reviewers who kindly helped improve the quality of the manuscript. Miroslav Radoň is acknowledged for providing the fossil specimens for study and description. Dr. Boris Ekrt (National Museum in Prague) is acknowledged for access to collections under his care. Prof. Zlatko Kvaček (Charles University in Prague) is acknowledged for information about flora of the locality. Dr. Alison Murray (University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada) is acknowledged for her comments on the manuscript and language corrections. I am grateful to Jessica Cundiff (Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University) for sending me the photograph of the holotype specimen of Lepidocottus papyraceus (MCZ 5262). The research was financially supported by institutional project AV0Z30130516 and RVO67985831 of the Institute of Geology AS CR, v.v.i.

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Correspondence to Tomáš Přikryl.

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Přikryl, T. A new species of the sleeper goby (Gobioidei, Eleotridae) from the České Středohoří Mountains (Czech Republic, Oligocene) and analysis of the validity of the family Pirskeniidae. Paläontol Z 88, 187–196 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-013-0188-y

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