A REVISION OF SCOMBRID FISHES (SCOMBROIDEI, PERCIFORMES) FROM THE MIDDLE EOCENE OF MONTE BOLCA, ITALY

Abstract:  A taxonomic revision of mackerel-like fishes (Scombridae, Scombroidei, Perciformes) from the Monte Bolca localities in Italy is presented as part of continuing research into phylogenetic relationships of fossil and Recent scombroids. Three new genera are proposed: † Godsilia , † Pseudauxides and † Thunnoscomberoides . In addition, species generally known as † Thynnus bolcensis , † Thynnus lanceolatus , † Scombrosarda propterygia , † Scomberomorus speciosus and † Scomberomorus tenuis are renamed † Thunnoscomberoides bolcensis comb. nov., † Godsilia lanceolata comb. nov., † Auxides propterygius comb. nov. and † Pseudauxides speciosus comb. nov., respectively. † S. tenuis , a nomen nudum , is a junior synonym of † P. speciosus . Provisional phylogenetic hypotheses of these Monte Bolca scombrids are as follows. † Auxides and † Pseudauxides are most likely primitive sister taxa of the mackerels Scomber and Rastrelliger with † Pseudauxides as the most primitive. † Godsilia may be placed between Scombrinae and Scomberomorinae. † Thunnoscomberoides seems to fit between Scombrinae and Thunnini.