Colobodus Giganteus (BELTAN, 1972) Comb. Nov. from the Upper

N. Jb. Geol. Paläont. Abh. 278/3 (2015), 323–333 Article Stuttgart, December 2015

Colobodus giganteus (BELTAN, 1972) comb. nov. from the Upper Muschelkalk facies of Catalonia (NE Iberian Peninsula) Joan Cartanyà, Josep Fortuny, Arnau Bolet, and Raoul Jossua Mutter With 6 ﬁgures

Abstract: A new Triassic actinopterygian specimen including the skull and the anterior portion of the squamation is described. The specimen represents the first find of a colobodontid from the Muschel- kalk of Odèn locality (Pyrenean Basin, NE Iberian Peninsula). Although fragmentarily preserved in part and counterpart, the specimen shows considerable morphological details and fine preservation of bone structure. Comparisons to several well-known species of Colobodus AGASSIZ, 1844 and Cre- nilepis DAMES, 1888 from the Middle Triassic of the Besano Formation (northern Italy and southern Switzerland) and two specimens from Alcover outcrops (Catalonian Basin, NE Iberian Peninsula) previously assigned to Perleidus giganteus BELTAN, 1972 enables a taxonomical re-assessment of Iberian colobodontids. The three specimens from the Iberian Peninsula are transferred to the genus Colobodus and re-named as Colobodus giganteus (BELTAN, 1972) comb. nov. This taxon is the largest within the genus Colobodus and it is characterized by three diagnostic features: the series of supraor- bitals, with more numerous and small ossifications in comparison with the rest of Colobodus species; the branchiostegal rays, more slender than in C. bassanii; and the teeth on the jaw margins not as well developed as in all other species of Colobodus, despite its considerable size.

Key words: Muschelkalk, Triassic, Actinopterygii, Colobodontidae, Colobodus, Crenilepis, Perleidus.

1. Introduction Late Ladinian (VIRGILI 1958; CALVET & MARZO 1994). Unfortunately, both specimens are preserved as out- The Middle and Upper Triassic colobodontids (Ac- lines and vague imprints, their phosphatic material ha- tinopterygii, Colobontidae) are large-sized advanced ving disappeared entirely due to dolomitization. These lower ray-finned fishes (actinopterygians) up to 650 specimens, however, share diagnostic features with mm in total length, abundant in the Germanic Basin colobodontids, and were later assigned to Colobodus (Western Tethys), and in South China (Eastern Tethys) aff. C. bassanii (CARTANYÀ 1999; POYATO-ARIZA et al. (MUTTER 2004; RUSCONI et al. 2007; SUN et al. 2008). 1999) and to Crenilepis (MUTTER 2002, 2004). Due to However, such large actinopterygians appear to be very the dolomitization process underwent by the remains scarce in the Iberian Muschelkalk facies (SCHMIDT from Alcover, some characters are not preserved and 1935; BELTAN 1972, 1975, 1984; SYKES & SIMON 1979). the taxonomy of the Iberian colobodontids is controver- BELTAN (1972, 1975) documented the ichthyofauna of sial. The new specimen recovered in the Odèn locality this Iberian facies and reported two specimens descri- (see below), consisting on a slightly disarticulated skull bed as Perleidus giganteus (the holotype ALC 836/7 with well preserved bone tissue and anteriormost scale and the referred material ALC-1070/1) from the Upper rows, provides new insights into the taxonomic identi- Muschelkalk layers of the Alcover outcrops (Alcover, ty of the Iberian remains and contribute to the poorly Mont-Ral and el Pinetell sites), traditionally dated as known colobodontid snout.