A new beardfish (Teleostei, Polymixiiformes) from the Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark

Researchers have identified and described a new genus of beardfish, Polyspinatus fluere, from the Eocene Fur Formation in Denmark. This discovery marks the first known record of the family Polymixiidae from the Eocene epoch based on articulated skeletal remains. The study utilized traditional stereomicroscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence-element mapping to analyze seven well-preserved specimens, revealing a unique hyoid apparatus that suggests a possible sister-group relationship with extant beardfishes. This finding sheds light on the evolutionary history and climate adaptation of early Eocene fishes, contributing significantly to our understanding of biodiversity during this period.

Schrøder, A. E., Rasmussen, J. A., Møller, P. R., & Carnevale, G. (2022). A new beardfish (Teleostei, Polymixiiformes) from the Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 42(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2022.2142914