| Abstrakt: |
Five species of the genus Vinciguerria (namely †V. macarovicii, †V. praeattenuata, †V. talgiensis, †V. obscura, and †V. merklini) were described and/or recorded from Romania. Most of the Eocene and Oligocene fossil species of this genus from the Central and Eastern Paratethys were later grouped in two genera (†Sytchewskia and †Eovinciguerria), mainly due to the morphology of the caudal skeleton. A systematic revision of the vinciguerrid phosichthyids from the Oligocene deposits of Piatra-Neam?, Romania (Central Paratethys) is presented herein. Based on the character analysis and relationships of the recent phosichthyid genera, we consider the genus †Eovinciguerria to be invalid and we re-establish the validity of the genus Vinciguerria for the Oligocene species. Morphological comparisons of the original material with well-preserved specimens of †V. obscura from Litencice (Czech Republic) and contemporary representatives allow us to recognize that †V. macarovicii is a synonym of †V. obscura. Moreover, †V. merklini recorded from the Oligocene deposits of Piatra-Neam? (Romania) represents a juvenile specimen of †V. obscura, contrary to what was previously postulated. |
