A new semionotiform actinopterygian fish from the Mesozoic of Spain and its phylogenetic implications

Abstract

Camerichthys lunae gen. et sp. nov. is a semionotiform actinopterygian fish described from the newly reported locality of San Andrés de San Pedro (province of Soria, Spain). The material, an articulated, partial three-dimensional specimen, was unearthed from the Tithonian–Berriasian beds of the Matute Formation (Tera Group) in the continental Cameros Basin. The new taxon, Camerichthys lunae gen. et sp. nov., differs from other ginglymodians in presenting a unique combination of characters plus: presence of a suprapreopercular bone; antorbital intermediate in depth in relation to the other anterior infraorbitals; and infraorbital placed in the anterior border of the orbit subdivided into two portions (three uniquely derived characters). The results of the cladistic analysis show that the new genus from Soria cannot be assigned to any of the three semionotiform families, Callipurbeckiidae, Macrosemiidae or Semionotidae. It is considered Semionotiformes incertae sedis. In the more resolutive analysis, with ordered characters, Camerichthys lunae gen. et sp. nov. appears as the sister group of the clade formed by the families Callipurbeckiidae plus Macrosemiidae. The effects of the new genus on the phylogeny of these two families and Dapedium, Semionotus and Paralepidotus, are discussed. Camerichthys gen. nov. is the first ginglymodian genus endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BBD15A41-5BFC-4BFF-AD40-ECD1891953F1

Keywords:

• Cameros Basin
• Cretaceous
• Ginglymodi
• Iberian Peninsula
• Jurassic
• Semionotiformes

Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank José Alberto del Barrio, Susi Roman, and their daughter Luna, for their altruistic contribution to science by donating their specimen to a public institution. Thanks to the Department of Earth Sciences of the Natural History Museum (London), especially Martha Richter and Zerina Johanson; Monette Véran (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris); and Louise Neep (British Geological Survey, Nottingham) for access to specimens under their care. Thanks to Adriana López-Arbarello for her interesting comments and suggestions. We are grateful to Emilia Sferco and one anonymous reviewer for their helpful revisions of this work. Bermúdez-Rochas thanks Ramón Mas, Javier Hernán and Maribel the Benito for their help in the field and for providing geological information. Special thanks to Zarela Herrera, Servicio de Fotografía Paleontológica of the Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain), whose dedication significantly contributed to the graphic quality of this paper. This work was partially funded by the Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, and by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España research project CGL 2009-11838/BTE. We dedicate this paper to all those who struggle to maintain scientific research and proper state education in Spain.