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Teleostei: Gonorynchiformes) Mesozoic Fishes 5 – Global Diversity and Evolution, G. Arratia, H.-P. Schultze & M. V. H. Wilson (eds.): pp. 325-362, 21 figs., 2 tabs., 2 apps. © 2013 by Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, Germany – ISBN 978-3-89937-159-8 The fi rst fossil shellear and its implications for the evolution and divergence of the Kneriidae (Teleostei: Gonorynchiformes) Matthew P. DAVIS, Gloria ARRATIA and Thomas M. KAISER Abstract A new genus and species of shellear (Gonorynchiformes: Kneriidae), †Mahengichthys singidaensis, is described from the Eocene Mahenge deposits in Tanzania, Africa. This work represents the first record of a fossil kneriid gonorynchiform fish. Previously, all gonorynchiform fossils have been attributed to either the families Chanidae or Gonorynchidae, with some taxa incertae sedis. We explore the phylogenetic position of †Mahengichthys singidaensis within the gonorynchiforms, utilizing parsimony and maximum likelihood methodologies that incorporate both morphological and molecular data. Our results indicate that †Mahengichthys singidaensis is a kneriid gonorynchiform within the tribe Kneriini, which includes the extant genera Kneria and Parakneria. This phylogenetic work provides a framework for estimating the divergence times of the Kneriidae for the first time using Bayesian methodology with calibrations that include information regarding extinct kneriids. We infer that the exclusively freshwater family Kneriidae most likely diverged and diversified during the Cretaceous to Paleogene in Sub-Saharan Africa, following the continent’s separation from South America. Introduction The order Gonorynchiformes includes seven extant and approximately seventeen extinct genera of fishes that exhibit incredible morphological diversity, with the clade dating back to the Early Cretaceous (FARA et al. 2010, POYATO-ARIZA et al. 2010a). There are three monophyletic families of gonorynchiform fishes, including the predominantly marine families Chanidae and Gonorynchidae, and the exclusively freshwater family Kneriidae distributed throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. While currently there is a general consensus regarding the monophyly of the order and each family, the relationships of the families to one another remains controversial, with conflict between molecular (LAVOUÉ et al. 2005, LAVOUÉ et al. 2012) and morphological (e. g., GRANDE & POYATO-ARIZA 1999, POYATO-ARIZA et al. 2010b) hypotheses. At present, the majority of previously described extinct genera are attributed to the families Chanidae and Gonorynchidae, with a few genera recognized as incertae sedis within the order (e. g., †Halecopsis, †Apul- ichthys). The only family that lacks a fossil representative is the exclusively freshwater family Kneriidae. In this study we describe the first fossil specimens of an extinct kneriid species collected in the fos- sil deposits of the ancient maar lake of Mahenge in Tanzania, Africa. The Cenozoic Mahenge deposits are considered to be one of the most important freshwater fish localities in Africa (GREENWOOD 1974, MURRAY 2000a, KAISER et al. 2006) due to the excellent preservation of the specimens, and the diver- sity of fish fauna previously described. Many taxa important to our broader understanding of teleostean relationships have been described from this locality, including the clupeid †Palaeodenticeps tanganikae GREENWOOD, 1960, two osteoglossomorphs †Singida jacksonoides GREENWOOD & PATTERSON, 1967, and †Chauliopareion mahengeense MURRAY & WILSON, 2005, a siluriform from the genus Chrysichthys (MURRAY 2003a), a characiform †Mahengecharax carrolli MURRAY, 2003b, and various cichlid taxa (e. g., GREENWOOD 1960, GREENWOOD & PATTERSON 1967, MURRAY 2000b) including the extinct genus †Mahengechromis MURRAY, 2000b, which are among the oldest cichlid fossils currently described from Africa. Additional material from the locality remains to be described, including non-cichlid percomorph taxa (KAISER et al. 2006). 325 Fig. 1. Diatreme fields in North-Central Tanzania. The Mahenge formation is found west of Singida. Enlarged map of the Mahenge diatreme includes excavation localities and natural outcrops. Modified from KAISER et al. (2006). 326 Fig. 2. Stratigraphic section of pit 05c, where the fossil specimens discussed in this paper were recovered. Modified from KAISER et al. (2006). Color after Munsell® 1975. 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.2 The goals of this study include: (1) provide a thorough morphological diagnosis and description of the kneriid 2.1 fossil material from Mahenge, (2) test the systematic placement of this species within the Gonorynchiformes 2.0 using morphological and molecular data with a total evi- dence approach, and (3) synthesize fossil and molecular 1.9 information to investigate the divergence times of the Gonorynchiformes. Below we further discuss the impor- 1.8 tance, flora and fauna, stratigraphy, and geologic age of the Mahenge deposits, and provide an overview of the 1.7 evolutionary relationships within the family Kneriidae. 1.6 The Fossil-Lagerstätte of Mahenge: Stratigraphy and age 1.5 The Mahenge locality (4°47'50.2" S; 34°15'54.5" E; Fig. 1) is situated near the village of Mwaru and 65 km west of the 1.4 town of Singida in north-central Tanzania (MANNARD 1962). Outcrops of lacustrine sediments indicate that the 1.3 Eocene maar crater-lake was approximately 400 m in di- ameter. Fossil specimens recovered at this site are notable 1.2 for their excellent preservation, and the lack of bioturba- tion indicates the lake possessed stable stratification of the 1.1 water column with anoxic conditions near the sediment 1.0 surface (HERENDEEN & JACOBS 2000, HARRISON et al. 2001, KAISER et al. 2006). 0.9 The Mahenge maar lake deposits have been critical in studying the evolution of Paleogene ecosystems in Africa, 0.8 the origins of Malagasy biota, and have provided the first representatives of several modern groups of plants and 0.7 vertebrates (e. g., bats, GUNNELL et al. 2003) in the fossil record of Sub-Saharan Africa (KAISER et al. 2006). The 2002 0.6 excavations at Mahenge (Tanzania) led by Thomas Kaiser (KAISER et al. 2006) as part of the Sub-Sahara-Paleogene- 0.5 Project (SSPP), recovered more than 1900 vertebrate, plant and trace fossils. Fishes represented 51 % of the specimens 0.4 collected, with 36 % of the material collected belonging to plant remains. The fossil flora, in addition to the sedimen- 0.3 tological data, indicates that the Mahenge Lake had a dry climate with pronounced seasonality (KAISER et al. 2006). 0.2 The natural exposures at Mahenge are located along 0.1 the cutback of the Luwala River, which crosses the crater from NE to SW. The main excavation efforts of the SSPP 0 were concentrated in the center of the maar (pits 5 and 6 327 of MANNARD 1962 and HARRISON et al. 2001). The reference profile was composed of the main section in the center of the former lake, a sequence of 3.80 m of fossiliferous lake sediments. Despite diagenetic dolomitization, sedimentary fabrics are well preserved, and the overall sedimentation rate in the lake centre is estimated at 0.93 mm/year (KAISER et al. 2006). The base of the section documented so far is constituted by 1.10 m of basal lacustrine sediments that have never been exposed prior to 2002. This base consists of calcareous mudstones, silicified mudstones, and sandy siltstones (Fig. 2). Previously recovered fish fauna from Mahenge led GREENWOOD & PATTERSON (1967) to suggest a Paleogene (probably Oligocene) age for the deposits. A kimberlite near Nzega, 120 km to the west of Mahenge, yielded U-Pb dates of 52.2 and 53.2 Ma, and fission track dates of 54.3+14 Ma and 51.1+3.8 Ma (DAVIS 1977, NAESER & MCCALLUM 1977, HAGGERTY et al. 1983), indicating an early Eocene (Ypre- sian) age. HARRISON et al. (2001) reported a middle Eocene (Lutetian) 206Pb/238U age of 45.83 ± 0.17 Ma from a single zircon crystal, which was recovered from the stream bed at Mahenge in 1996. The crystal is hypothesized to be from the eruption that created the maar lake, and is therefore slightly older than the lake itself (HARRISON et al. 2001, KAISER et al. 2006). Maar lakes in Europe and Africa have demonstrated that accumulation of lacustrine sediments quickly begins following the initial formation of the crater (LORENZ 1973, SMITH 1986, RAYNER & MCKAY 1986, RAYNER 1987, GIRESSE et al. 1991, CORNEN et al. 1992). Based on this information, HARRISON et al. (2001) estimate that the fossils recovered from the Mahenge maar sediments are approximately 45-46 Ma old. Evolutionary history of the family Kneriidae Prior to this study, the shellears (Kneriidae) were composed of five extant genera (approximately 31 species) including Cromeria, Grasseichthys, Kneria, Parakneria, and Phractolaemus (e. g., GRANDE & POYATO-ARIZA 1999, POYATO-ARIZA et al. 2010b). Hypotheses regarding the evolutionary relationships among genera within the kneriids have been conflicting (e. g., FINK & FINK 1996, LAVOUÉ et al. 2005, POYATO-ARIZA et al. 2010b, LAVOUÉ et al. 2012), in particular with regards to the phylogenetic position of the paedomorphic taxa Cromeria and Grasseichthys (Fig. 3). Within Kneriidae, there is a strong consensus for a subfamily Phrac- tolaeminae (Phractolaemus) + subfamily Kneriinae clade (Cromeria, Grasseichthys, Phractolaemus Kneria, Parakneria) as seen in Figure 3. Phractolaeminae Phractolaeminae The monotypic Phractolaemus ansorgii was previously classified in the family Cromeria Phractolaemidae by NELSON (2006); however, we place Phractolaemus in Grasseichthys the family Kneriidae with the other
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