New Fossil Fish Musculopedunculus micklichi(Trichiuroidei) from the Lower Oligocene of Germany

摘要

The new fossil fish Musculopedunculus micklichi (type locality: the lower Oligocene slate sediments to the south of Heidelberg, FRG) is described from an incomplete skeleton impression. The diagnostic characters are the powerful and relatively deep caudal peduncle with the hemal and, probably, neural processes of anterior preural centra strongly enlarged, located at an angle of about 60-, as well as a compressed body, high number of vertebrae (probably, about 80), the dorsal fin probably slightly differentiated into the spiny and soft parts, and a well-developed fronto-occipital sagittal crest. On the basis of these and other features, the fossil taxon does not conform to the known Euzaphlegidae, Gempylidae, and Trichiuridae and is recognized as the new family Musculopedunculidae probably belonging to the Trichiuroidae.