After the disaster: Bony fish remains (mostly otoliths) from the K/Pg boundary section at Stevns Klint, Denmark, reveal consistency with teleost faunas from later Danian and Selandian strata.

A groundbreaking analysis of bony fish remains, particularly otoliths, from the K/Pg boundary section at Stevns Klint, Denmark, reveals a striking consistency in teleost faunas across the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K/Pg) mass extinction event and into the Danian and Selandian stages. The study identified six otolith-based taxa from the uppermost Maastrichtian and three from the basal Danian, with notable overlaps such as Polymixia? harderi persisting through the boundary and Centroberyx sp. representing a common genus in both periods. Contrary to expectations, no evidence of phased extinction was found, suggesting remarkable resilience in early Paleocene fish faunas. The research relied on imprints from dissolved aragonitic otoliths and bone fragments, offering a unique window into post-disaster marine ecosystems.

Schwarzhans, W., & Milàn, J. (2017). After the disaster: Bony fish remains (mostly otoliths) from the K/Pg boundary section at Stevns Klint, Denmark, reveal consistency with teleost faunas from later Danian and Selandian strata. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark, 65, 59–74. https://doi.org/10.37570/bgsd-2017-65-05