Coryphaenoides richi sp. nov. (Macrouridae, Teleostei) from the deep-marine, Oligocene Makah Formation of Washington State, U.S.A.

2026/02/11 by Werner Schwarzhans, Timo Moritz, James L. Goedert · 1 voice
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Marine and fisheries research #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology

paper · pdf · doi:10.3897/zitteliana.100.182311

openalex created_date 2026/02/11 · openalex publication_date 2026/02/11 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11

Abstract

Silicified scales, bones and one otolith were extracted with mild acid solution from a small carbonate concretion found in the Makah Formation on the south shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington State, U.S.A. The strongly-spiny scales are typical for fishes of the family Macrouridae and the otolith facilitates the identification and description of a new species of the genus Coryphaenoides , C. richi sp. nov . The Makah Formation was deposited in a deep-marine outer-fan environment during the early Oligocene. The discovery of Coryphaenoides richi in such an environment is testimony for an effective population of the deep sea with macrourid fishes and that the genus Coryphaenoides was firmly established in the early Oligocene.

Discussions

• Silicified scales and a tiny ear bone (otolith) have been found inside a rock from the Makah Formation, revealing a new prehistoric fish species named 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪. Read al [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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