Original articleFish otoliths from the Pliocene Heraklion Basin (Crete Island, Eastern Mediterranean)☆
Introduction
Fish otoliths, the aragonitic incremental structures within the teleostean fish's inner ear, present taxon-specific morphology, which enables fossil fish assemblage reconstruction, since they are highly frequent in sediments of various environmental settings, ranging from lake to deep-sea deposits, and they are generally well preserved (Nolf, 1985). In addition, numerous studies have illustrated their value as palaeoecologic and palaeobathymetric indicators, providing very detailed and accurate palaeobiological and palaeoclimatic information.
The Pliocene Mediterranean fish fauna comprised typical tropical and subtropical taxa, which mostly inhabited the basin following its reconnection to the Atlantic Ocean, after the Messinian Salinity Crisis (Landini and Sorbini, 2005). Pliocene fish remains have been identified through several studies in the Western Mediterranean realm (Nolf and Martinell, 1980, Nolf and Girone, 2006, Girone, 2007). However few studies have been performed in the eastern sub-basin, almost all currently available information coming from fish skeletal remains. New Zanclean otolith-based fish fossil data for the Eastern Mediterranean basin are presented here for the first time, through the systematic study and analysis of the Zanclean fish otolith assemblages of the Voutes section (Heraklion, central Crete).
Section snippets
Geological setting
The Crete Island originated during the late Miocene through the N-S and E-W extensional deformation of the south Aegean, resulting in the formation of multiple tectonic blocks and late Miocene to Pleistocene sedimentary basins (Meulenkamp et al., 1988, Van Hinsbergen and Meulenkamp, 2006). The Neogene sediments overlie a pile of alpine nappe substratum, which includes the metamorphic Plattenkalk and Phyllites-Quarzites Units followed by the Tripolis and Pindos-Ethia, as well as other minor
Material and methods
Overall, nine sediment samples were taken; 25 kg each, along the Voutes section (Fig. 2, Fig. 3). Sample 1 was taken from the uppermost diatomite horizon, which is bare of other faunal remains. Sample 2 was collected from the uppermost marls, which present a rather rich macro-invertebrate fauna, including nuculoids, pectinids and limids. Samples 3 and 4 were taken from the second and third diatomite horizons, respectively, which present a poor macro-invertebrate fauna of deep-water bivalves.
Systematic palaeontology
Altogether, 42 taxa from 20 families were identified in the Voutes section sediments (Fig. 6). Specific notes on their identifications and systematic placement are made below wherever necessary.
Class ACTINOPTERYGII Klein, 1885
Order ANGUILLIFORMES Berg, 1940
Family CONGRIDAE Kaup, 1856
Genus Pseudophichthys Roule, 1915
Pseudophichthys spp.
Fig. 7(3)
Remarks: Two specimens are placed within this genus, based on the ostium portion of the sulcus, which is only very shallow and consequently poorly
Biostratigraphy
In the Voutes section, the nannoflora assemblage is dominated by discoasterids, which provide important biostratigraphic markers in the Pliocene. Discoasters are relatively well diversified and contain Discoaster adamanteus, D. assymetricus, D. tamalis, D. surculus, and very sporadic D. pentaradiatus and D. brouweri.
Placoliths are represented mainly by very abundant Pseudoemiliania lacunosa. Helicosphaera sellii is also significantly contributing to nannofossil assemblages. Reticulofenestra
Conclusion
The added value provided through the examination of the Voutes fish fauna lies in the fact that this is the first systematic study of the evolution of the fish paleofauna in the Eastern Mediterranean. Indeed, Chlorophthalmus agassizi, an extant circum-global species very abundant in the Eastern Ionian Sea today, is documented for the first time outside the Ionian basin and in the Early Pliocene. This significantly affects any preconceptions regarding the Eastern Mediterranean deep-dwelling
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Bruno Delrieu for the introduction to the studied section, as well as Dr. Gilles Escarguel, Dr. Giorgio Carnevale and Dr. Rostislav Brzobohaty for reviewing the manuscript. This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) - Research Funding Program “Heracleitus II. Investing in knowledge society
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Facies
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Corresponding editor: Gilles Escarguel.