Contribution
Otolith morphometry of Ambassidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) reveals species diversity and faunal exchange in the late Burdigalian of the North Alpine Foreland Basin and the Central Paratethys
Gegg, Lukas; Reichenbacher, Bettina
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 317 Heft 1 (2026), p. 49 - 65
74 références bibliographiques
publié: Apr 17, 2026
publication en ligne: Mar 13, 2026
manuscrit accepté: Feb 16, 2026
manuscrit reçu: Jan 22, 2026
DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/1305
ArtNo. ESP155031701004, Prix: 29.00 €
Abstract
Fossil otoliths are a well-established tool for resolving species-level diversity in teleost fishes. However, species identification of fossil otoliths commonly relies on qualitative characters, which can introduce uncertainty regarding true species diversity, particularly when reconstructing ancient connectivity between geographically separated basins. Here we address this issue using otoliths of Ambassidae (Teleostei, Perciformes) from upper Burdigalian (Lower Miocene) brackish deposits of the North Alpine Foreland Basin (51 otoliths) and the Central Paratethys (Western Carpathian Foredeep, eight otoliths), allowing the integration of quantitatively supported species-level diversity data with reconstructions of Early Miocene palaeoenvironmental conditions, palaeobiogeography and palaeoclimate. Based on a new quantitative approach encompassing twelve otolith variables and univariate and multivariate statistical analyses, we identify three ambassid species, including Parambassis? pipperrae n. sp. Their co-occurrence indicates ecologically structured assemblages, suggesting warm, shallow, euryhaline environments during the late Burdigalian. One species, †Dapalis formosus, is shared between the North Alpine Foreland Basin and the Western Carpathian Foredeep, providing evidence for faunal exchange between these regions. We hypothesize that monsoon-like climatic conditions associated with intensified precipitation, as suggested by previous studies, promoted episodic storm and flooding events that temporarily created dispersal pathways for euryhaline fishes, despite of the presence of topographic barriers such as the Amstetten Swell and the Landshut-Neuöttingen High. Overall, our results demonstrate that quantitative otolith morphometry significantly improves fossil ambassid taxonomy and provides a robust framework for reconstructing Early Miocene euryhaline palaeoenvironments and faunal connectivity. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A762EC8B-B64D-40C5-BF4A-720B75EF7D85
Mots-clefs
Ambassidae • otolith morphometry • Lower Miocene • Paratethys • North Alpine Foreland Basin • palaeoenvironment