Interrelationships of fossil and recent anchovies (Teleostei, Engrauloidea) and description of a new species from the Miocene of Cyprus. American Museum novitates ; no. 2826
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Abstract
"Aside from species described only from otoliths, there are six alleged species of fossil anchovies (Engrauloidea). Of these only one (Engraulis macrocephalus from the Plio-Pleistocene of Italy) is recognizable as an anchovy on the basis of character information. Two are recognizable as clupeomorphs and probably as clupeids (aEngraulis longipinnis, Stolephorus lemoinei). Three are unrecognizable as clupeomorphs (lEngraulis evolans, E. brevipinnis, hEngraulites remifer). A new (and only the second valid) fossil species of anchovy, Engraulis tethensis n. sp. from the Upper Miocene of Cyprus, is the oldest known species of the group. The scarcity of fossil anchovies is anomalous in view of their abundance today (at least 130 species) and the abundance of fossil herrings (well over 100 species). Interrelationships of clupeomorph subgroups imply that anchovies (Engrauloidea) are as old as herrings (Clupeoidea). Ecology may explain the scarcity of fossil anchovies"--P. [1].
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 14-16).