Lophiidae Rafinesque 1810

Lophiidae gen. et sp. indet. Fig. 30 Material examined UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – Mississippi • 229 teeth, MMNS VP-6995 (10 teeth), SC 2013.28.581 (Fig. 30A–C), SC 2013.28.582 (Fig. 30G–I), SC 2013.28.583, SC 2013.28.584 (Fig. 30D–F), SC 2013.28.585, SC 2013.28.586, SC 2013.28.587 (Fig. 30J–L), SC 2013.28.588 (8 teeth), SC 2013.28.589 (15 teeth), SC 2013.28.590 (36 teeth), SC 2013.28.591 (15 teeth), SC 2013.28.592 (51 teeth), SC 2013.28.593 (87 teeth). Description The isolated teeth are tall, needle-like, and, in profile view, posteriorly curving to varying degrees (Fig. 30A, D, G, J). The crown is conical to somewhat laterally compressed, with the anterior face of the latter morphology being narrower than that of the posterior face (Fig. 30B, E, H). In anterior/posterior view, the crown may be weakly medially curved. Enameloid is not evident on any specimens, but the posterior surface bears numerous closely spaced, parallel vertical ridges extending up to three-quarters of the tooth height. The teeth have a labial carina that extents the height of the tooth. In basal view, the tooth has a circular to elliptical outline, and a circular pulp cavity is deep and framed by a thin wall of dentine (Fig. 30C, F, I, L). Remarks The fossil material we examined compares very well to an extant Lophius americanus Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1837 in the MSC collection (MSC 50198), as well as illustrations of Miocene material reported from elsewhere (Purdy et al. 2001: fig. 66c; Schultz 2006: pl. 1 figs 1b, 2b). The lophiid teeth are easily distinguished from the teeth of all other Catahoula Formation teleosts by their tall, needle-like and curved crown, posterior longitudinal ridges, labial carina, and circular basal outline. Additional extant lophiid comparative specimens are needed to further elucidate the taxonomic affinities of these remains.