The stromateiform fish Parapropercarina multispinata gen. et sp. nov. from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark

A new stromateiform fish from the earliest Eocene Fur Formation, northwestern Denmark, is described as Parapropercarina multispinata gen. et sp. nov. by using non-destructive µXRF-element mapping and standard comparative osteology. The new genus and species is diagnosed by a distinctive combination of characters: a moderately elongate, laterally compressed body; six branchiostegal rays, a single deeply notched dorsal fin with 15 spines and 18 rays; three supraneurals; anal fin with two or three spines and 24 soft rays; pectoral fin with 18 rays extending posteriorly approximately at the level of the 10th abdominal vertebra; pelvic fin containing one spine and five rays; 36 (15+21) vertebrae; well-developed parapophyses on posterior abdominal vertebrae; caudal skeleton comprising fused hypurals 1+2, partially fused hypurals 3+4, autogenous hypural 5, autogenous parhypural lacking parhypurapophysis, two uroneurals, and three epurals; oral jaw dentition uniserially arranged; body densely covered with thin, cycloid scales. Parapropercarina multispinata gen. et sp. nov. thus shows a mosaic of features, that clearly aligns it within the Stromateiformes (Stromateoidei). This new fossil extends the occurrence of a body plan similar to that of propercarinids back to the early Eocene of the eastern North Sea Basin.