Original paper
A fossil mola from the Mediterranean Pliocene
Collareta, Alberto; Casati, Simone; Mulè, Federica; Pieri, Alice; Cencio, Andrea Di; Bianucci, Giovanni
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 313 Heft 3 (2025), p. 341 - 351
65 references
published: Feb 16, 2025
published online: Feb 3, 2025
manuscript accepted: Jan 2, 2025
manuscript received: Nov 1, 2024
ArtNo. ESP155031303007, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
We report on the discovery of a ‘gymnodont’ beak from Lower Pliocene marine deposits of the Siena-Radicofani Basin (Tuscany, central Italy) that represents the fused dentaries of an ocean sunfish (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae). Recognised as originating from a late juvenile individual, our find represents the only post-Miocene fossil record of Molidae in the Mediterranean Basin and outside North America. The palaeoenvironmental setting of the find area, consisting of a somewhat sheltered embayment not far from the coastline and characterised by rather deep waters, is broadly consistent with the habitat preferences of extant molas. More generally, palaeoclimatic and palaeoceanographic considerations suggest that the Early Pliocene marine palaeoenvironments of Tuscany may have been particularly suitable for sunfishes.
Keywords
Lucciola Bella • Molidae • ocean sunfish • palaeobiogeography • palaeoecology • palaeoichthyology • Siena-Radicofani Basin • Tetraodontiformes • Tuscany • Zanclean