An Eocene conger eel (Teleostei, Anguilliformes) from the Lillebælt Clay Formation, Denmark

Abstract

A conger eel (Anguilliformes, Congridae) is described from the lower Lutetian concretionary nodules of the Lillebælt Clay Formation exposed at Trelde Næs, eastern Jutland, based on two partially complete articulated cranial skeletons. One of the cranial specimens exhibits an otolith void from which a cast was taken, used by Schwarzhans (2007) to describe the extinct Pseudoxenomystax treldeensis, which is placed herein within the new genus Smithconger gen. nov. Smithconger treldeensis (Schwarzhans, 2007) is characterized by well-developed lateral processes on the frontals, supraoccipital crest absent, sphenotic spine rather large, anteriorly pointed and exposed on the flattened surface of the skull roof, otic bullae considerably reduced, maxilla almost straight and distally pointed, maxillary and dentary teeth numerous and arranged in multiple rows, dentary with slightly convex ventral profile, opercle with smooth posterior margin and subopercle short. The otoliths of Smithconger treldeensis show high dorsal rim, broad and deep dorsal depression, no ventral furrow, sulcus straight, shallow, centrally positioned with anteriorly reduced colliculum, and ostial channel at anterior tip of colliculum short, not reaching the predorsal rim. The otolith-based species Bathycongrus waihaoensis Schwarzhans, 2019 from the Kaiatan (Bartonian/Priabonian) of New Zealand is also assigned to the genus Smithconger. Smithconger is tentatively referred to the congrid subfamily Congrinae due to the lack of hypohyals in the hyoid bar. This new Eocene genus of conger eel shows a certain degree of similarity with the extant Bassanago. The diversity and relationships of other Eocene congrids is also briefly discussed.