Otoliths from the lower Pliocene of the section Prassies (Rethymnon, ΝW - Crete). Systematics - Paleoecology

Abstract

This paper concerns the study of Otoliths coming from the sediments of the L. Pliocene of the region Kefales of the community Prassies at the northern part of Rethymnon (NW- Central Crete), 10 km from it and the places of sampling are along the road Rethymnon- Amari to the village Prassies. These sediments are yellowish with a visible inclination and sedimentary structures overlying in unconformity on the alpic substrate. The sediments of the studied area consist of Miocene, Plio-Pleistocene and Holocene formations. Holocene appears with littoral deposits (sand, gravels and alluvian deposits) 20 m. The Plio - Pleistocene formations –marine deposits- consisting of brawn marls without fossils (upper members), of marls with macrofossils (intermediate members) and white marls and clays with Algae and Pectinidae, Ostreidae, some Gastropods and Echinoids (lower members). Total height 150 m. The Miocene has a total thickness of 200 m. The studied Otoliths belong to the orders: 1. Iniomi (Myctophiformes): Diaphus splendidus (PROCHAZKA 1893), Diaphus sp., Diaphus holti TANING, 1918, Diaphus kokeni (PROCHAZKA 1893), Ceratoskopelus madarensis (LOWE 1839), Myctophidarum edwardsi (SAUVAGE 1873), 2. Anacanthini (Gadiformes): Bregmaceros albyi (SAUVAGE 1880), Macrurus novus BASSOLI, 3. Percomorphi (Perciformes): Gobius vicinalis KOKEN., Gobius sp. The studied Otoliths, mentioned for the first time in Greece, give important results on the biogeography and paleogeography and contribute to our knowledge about this fossilized group.