Otoliths in situ from Sarmatian (Middle Miocene) fishes of the Paratethys. Part IV: Scorpaenidae, Labridae, and Gobiesocidae

Abstract

Percomorph fishes are relatively uncommon in the Sarmatian deposits of Dolje and Belgrade where they are primarily of small size, often representing juvenile specimens. Here, we describe otoliths in situ from “Scorpaena” minima Kramberger 1882 (Scorpaenidae), Symphodus woodwardi (Kramberger 1891) (Labridae), and from an indeterminate clingfish tentatively placed in Apletodon (Gobiesocidae). “Scorpaena” minima is based on juvenile specimens and does not exhibit a complete set of features for a robust diagnosis, although it certainly represents a nominally valid species. Symphodus woodwardi is redefined herein based on the holotype and an additional small and well-preserved specimen, and a comparative analysis including Neogene congeners from the Mediterranean and Paratethys is discussed. Apletodon? sp. represents the first documented fossil clingfish in the record, even if the preservation of the three specimens identified does not allow a detailed taxonomic definition to the species level. None of the species with otolith in situ described herein can be related to any of the known coeval isolated otolith-based species, although in the case of the scorpaenid, such correlation is hampered by the juvenile nature of the available specimens.