Late Cretaceous (Santonian) pycnodontid (Actinopterygii, Pycnodontidae) remains from the freshwater deposits of the Csehbánya Formation, (Iharkút, Bakony Mountains, Hungary)

Abstract

Isolated but well-preserved remains of pycnodontiform fishes from the Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) Csehbánya Formation at Iharkút, western Hungary are described here. The assemblage contains cranial (premaxilla/dentary, vomers, prearticulars, teeth) and postcranial (possible contour scales) remains allowing the identification of the Iharkút pycnodontiforms as cf. Coelodus sp. Supported by sedimentological and stable isotope studies, the Iharkút fossils represent one of the few certainly freshwater occurrences of the group in the Upper Cretaceous of Europe. An estimated value of minimum number of individuals indicates that the remains of at least 28 individuals were hitherto discovered, suggesting that these medium-sized hard-shelled prey consuming fishes were quite abundant in the Iharkút freshwater habitats.