Opmerkelijke Luiks-Limburgse Krijtfossielen: deel 56. Twee bijzondere Krijtbeenvissen in de spotlight

Abstract

REMARKABLE LATE CRETACEOUS FOSSILS FROM LIÈGE-LIMBURG
Part 56. Two interesting teleost fishes in the spotlight.

Over recent years, teleost fish material from
the Upper Cretaceous of Liège-Limburg has
been receiving more attention, yet (semi-)
articulated and associated skeletons are rarely
encountered. Here, two remarkable and partially
articulated skeletons of very different teleost fish
are discussed, illustrated and briefly described.
The first specimen originates from the upper
Campanian Zeven Wegen Member (Gulpen
Formation) and illustrates that limestone members
generally considered as ‘less rich in vertebrate
fossils’ likely have a higher vertebrate diversity
than previously assumed. It is an important specimen that forms a starting point for investigating the relatively understudied and poorly
known late Campanian fish fauna of the study
area. The second specimen stems from the Emael
Member (Maastricht Formation) and consists of
a partial postcranial skeleton of a pycnodontiform
fish. Likely, this fossil represents the first record
of a postcranial skeleton of Anomoeodus, which in
the study area was known exclusively from dental
plates and isolated teeth until now. As such, it may
contribute significantly to our understanding of
the anatomy of Anomoeodus.