Taxonomic revision of the Oligocene percoid fish Oligoserranoides budensis (Heckel, 1856), from the Paratethys and paleobiogeographic comments

Abstract

Small perch-like fishes from the Oligocene of the Paratethys were traditionally assigned to Serranus budensis (Heckel, 1856). A new morphological study of the holotype and specimens from the Outer Carpathians, Poland, is provided herein. Oligoserranoides budensis (Heckel, 1856), Percoidei incertae sedis, is revised and compared with other small perch-like fishes from the Oligocene Paratethys. Caucasoserranoides morozkiensis, Carpathoserranoides brnoensis, Carpathoserranoides polonicus and Oligoserranoides comparabilis are very similar to O. budensis and further studies are necessary to clarify the validity of those species. O. budensis is compared with the Oligocene-Lower Miocene Pirsagatia sytchevskayae, the Eocene Jimtylerius temnopterus, Ottaviania mariae,O. leptacanthus, Veranichthys ventralis and the Palaeocene Proserranus lundensis. O. budensis shares many characters with the Lutjanoidea, and differs in a toothless palatine. The palaeobiogeography of Oligocene small perch-like fishes in the Paratethys is presented.