Neobythites longesulcatus Lin & Steurbaut & Nolf 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Lin, Chien-Hsiang
name: Steurbaut, Etienne
name: Nolf, Dirk
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Ophidiiformes
Ophidiidae
Neobythites
Neobythites longesulcatus

description: Neobythites longesulcatus sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E7434385-3EEF-4F21-B545-519B63B9EA49
Fig. 8A–C
Diagnosis
OL/OH = 1.8–1.9, OsL/CaL = 2.5–2.8. Fusiform otoliths with angled posterior rim. Rounded antero-dorsal bulge on dorsal rim. Anterior rim largely blunt. Sulcus very wide and elongate. Ostium markedly elongate, very slightly narrower than rectanglar cauda.
Etymology
‘ Longesulcatus, a, um ’ = ‘provided with a long sulcus’. Refers to the notably elongate sulcus of the species.
Type material examined
Holotype UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • Left otolith; Virginia, Pamunkey River, Hanovertown, Potapaco Member; Fig. 8A; IRSNB P 10745.
Paratypes (3 in total) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA • 3 otoliths of which two are figured: Fig. 8B–C; Maryland, Loyola Retreat House, N of Popes Creek, Woodstock Member; IRSNB P 10746, P 10747.
Type locality and horizon
United States of America, Pamunkey River, Hanovertown (Virginia), Potapaco Member.
Dimensions of the holotype
Length = 4.99 mm; height = 2.81 mm; thickness = 1.50 mm.
Description
The species is identifiable by its fusiform otoliths, which have a largely blunt anterior rim and a well-marked posterior angle. The dorsal rim is elevated and possesses a blunt antero-dorsal bulge, forming the highest point of the otoliths. The ventral rim is gently curved, and all margins are smooth. The otoliths are thick and possess convex inner and outer faces (Fig. 8A 1). A straight, wide, and well-divided sulcus occupies nearly the entire length of the inner face in the central region of the otoliths. The sulcus does not open to the margins. The ostium is notably elongate and extends over one-third of the sulcus length, and it is very slightly narrower than the short, rectanglar cauda. Above the crista superior, there is a shallow, elongate dorsal depression.
Remarks
The massive, robust otoliths of this new species share many characters with those of “ Neobythites ” auribatianus Lin et al., 2017, from the Lutetian of the Aquitaine Basin (Lin et al. 2017b: fig. 9a–g), indicating a possible close relationship. Nevertheless, the American species is distinguished by its less pronounced blunt antero-dorsal bulge, more rounded anterior rim, less tapered posterior rim, and somewhat broader sulcus. Moreover, the high resemblance of the sulcus shape and proportions (e.g. OL/ sulcus length, OsL/CaL) and the overall configuration with otoliths of Neobythites allow us to assign this new species to this extant genus (see Lin & Chang 2012: pl. 81).
Stratigraphic and geographic distribution
Ypresian: Potapaco Member, Virginia; Woodstock Member, Maryland.
description: Published as part of Lin, Chien-Hsiang, Steurbaut, Etienne & Nolf, Dirk, 2024, Early Eocene fish otoliths from the eastern and southern USA, pp. 203-240 in European Journal of Taxonomy 935 on pages 220-222, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2024.935.2557, http://zenodo.org/record/11526096