A New Early Cretaceous Gonorynchiform Fish: Teleostei, Ostariophysi From Las Hoyas, Cuenca, Spain

New Cretaceous gonorynchiform fish from Spain reveals a small, deep-bodied form with a distinctive, high caudal fin. Las Hoyas, in Cuenca, Spain, yields the remains of a newly described genus and species from the Early Cretaceous. The specimen is a small teleost with a triangular head, relatively deep body, and a dorsal fin that sits high on the body. It shows a mix of primitive and derived features, and it is provisionally placed within Gonorynchiformes incertae sedis while further analysis is pursued. The discovery adds to the rich Las Hoyas vertebrate assemblage, which includes a variety of plants, invertebrates, and other fishes from a well-dated Hauterivian–Early Barremian horizon. What you’ll learn or experience: - A detailed look at cranial and caudal endoskeletal features that help identify a new gonorynchiform fish. - How the holotype and many paratypes support a formal description of a new genus and species. - The debate over classification within Ostariophysi and Gonorynchiformes, and why this taxon remains incertae sedis for now. - Comparisons to related chanid and ostariophysan fishes from the same time period, highlighting similarities and differences in anatomy. Ideal for readers of paleontology, Early Cretaceous Spain, and fossil fish anatomy, especially those curious about how new species are described and placed in the tree of life. Read more