Publications
First occurrence of a fish otolith from the Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark
Researchers have identified the first fish otolith from the Eocene Fur Formation in Denmark, a significant discovery as otoliths from this formation were previously unknown. The specimen, found isolated within a carbonate concretion, exhibits features characteristic of an argentinoid otolith and is attributed to Surlykus longigracilis, the most abundant teleost species documented in the Fur Formation based on skeletal remains. This finding allows for a reevaluation of argentiniform otolith-based taxa from the Paleocene of Denmark, including the reassignment of one species to the genus Surlykus (S. procerus) and the description of a new taxon, Pseudonansenia hauniensis n. gen., n. sp. The study enhances our understanding of fish evolution and climate adaptation during this critical period.
The argentiniform Surlykus longigracilis gen. et sp. nov., the most abundant fish from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark.
Paleontologists have identified and described Surlykus longigracilis, a new genus and species of argentiniform fish from the earliest Eocene Fur Formation in northern Denmark. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of Argentiniformes, revealing that S. longigracilis occupies a basal position within this clade, serving as the sister-group to all other lineages. The fish's unique caudal skeleton, large mouth, and single supramaxilla distinguish it from other argentiniforms. Mass-mortality assemblages suggest that S. longigracilis formed large schools in the ancient North Sea Basin, likely playing a central role in the trophic structure of its ecosystem. This study provides significant insights into the biodiversity and paleoecology of the Eocene era.
A new beardfish (Teleostei, Polymixiiformes) from the Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark
Researchers have identified and described a new genus of beardfish, Polyspinatus fluere, from the Eocene Fur Formation in Denmark. This discovery marks the first known record of the family Polymixiidae from the Eocene epoch based on articulated skeletal remains. The study utilized traditional stereomicroscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence-element mapping to analyze seven well-preserved specimens, revealing a unique hyoid apparatus that suggests a possible sister-group relationship with extant beardfishes. This finding sheds light on the evolutionary history and climate adaptation of early Eocene fishes, contributing significantly to our understanding of biodiversity during this period.
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World Heritage Explorer > World Heritage Research > World Heritage Sites > The Bony Fish Fossils of the Western Limfjord – Evolution and Climate Adaptation in the Earliest Eocene