[PaleoIchthyology • 2016]
Venusichthys comptus • A Middle Triassic Stem-Neopterygian Fish from China shows Remarkable Secondary Sexual Characteristics
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| Venusichthys comptus
Xu & Zhao, 2016
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Abstract
Secondary sexual characteristics are features that appear at sexual
maturity and distinguish the two sexes of a species. They are readily
observed and studied in living animals, but the phenomenon is rather
more difficult to identify in fossil taxa. Here we report a new sexually
dimorphic stem-neopterygian fish, Venusichthys comptus gen. et sp. nov.,
based on 30 exceptionally well-preserved specimens from the Middle
Triassic (Pelsonian, Anisian) Luoping Lagerstätte of eastern Yunnan,
China. The discovery represents the oldest known secondary sexual
characteristics in Neopterygii. These characteristics, including pointed
tubercles on cranial bones, scales and fins, and hook-like contact
organ anterior to the anal fin, have three inferred primary functions:
maintenance of body contact between the sexes during prespawning
behavior or spawning; stimulation of the females during breeding; and
defense of nests and territories. Lacking a specialized anal fin in the
presumed males, Venusichthys would likely have a different
reproductive strategy from peltopleurids and other potentially
viviparous stem-neopterygians. Moreover, Venusichthys shows a
unique character combination distinguished from any other
stem-neopterygian families and consequently represents a new family of
this clade. As such, the new finding provides an important addition for
understanding the behavior, reproduction, and early diversification of
Neopterygii.
Keywords: Sexual dimorphism; Breeding tubercles; Venusichthyidae; Neopterygii; Actinopterygii
Systematic paleontology
Neopterygii Regan, 1923
Venusichthyidae fam. nov.
Venusichthys comptus gen. et sp. nov.
Etymology: The genus epithet is from Latin venus, meaning goddess of love, and ichthys, meaning fish. The species epithet is from Latin comptus, meaning ornamental.
Holotype: A nearly complete skeleton of presumed female deposited
at the collection of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and
Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences. V20010. Standard
length is 31 mm.
Referred specimens: IVPP V20011–20034, 20055–20058; ZMNH (Zhejiang Museum of Natural History, Hangzhou, China) M1695.
Type locality and horizon: Luoping, Yunnan, China; second (upper) member of Guanling Formation, Pelsonian, Anisian, Middle Triassic.
Diagnosis: A new stem-neopterygian diagnosed by the following
combination of features: presence of pointed anterior process of
rostral; absence of supraorbitals; quadratomandibular articulation
slightly anterior to middle line of orbit; maxilla notably longer than
lower jaw; presence of tubercles and contact organ in presumed males;
two preopercular elements on each side; two pairs of branchiostegal
rays; anterior lateral line scales six times deeper than wide; dorsal
fin larger than anal fin; 24 principal caudal fin rays; and squamation
formula of D14/P7, A13, C31/T37.
Guang-Hui Xu and Li-Jun Zhao. 2016. A Middle Triassic Stem-Neopterygian
Fish from China shows Remarkable Secondary Sexual Characteristics. Science Bulletin. 61(4); 338-344. DOI: 10.1007/s11434-016-1007-0
摘要: 第二性征是动物在性成熟所表现的、可以用来分辨物种性别的特征。第二性征比较容易在现生物种中观察到,但是它们很难在化石中识别。根据采集于云南罗平中三叠世安尼期海相地层的三十块鱼化石,本文报道了基干新鳍鱼的一个新属种:多饰维纳斯鱼 (Venusichthys comptus)。
维纳斯鱼具有明显的性双型:成年雄鱼具有第二性征,包括雄鱼头部、鳞片和鳍条上的尖突,以及臀鳍前面钩状的接触器。这些第二性征可能用于增进雌、雄鱼体产
卵前或产卵中的身体接触,刺激雌鱼排卵,以及保护巢穴和领地。维纳斯鱼不具有肋鳞鱼类或其它卵胎生鱼类那样特化的臀鳍,它的生殖方式可能不是卵胎生的。维
纳斯鱼代表了新鳍鱼类第二性征的最早记录,它的发现为了解新鳍鱼类的行为、繁殖方式和早期分异提供了重要信息。
Neopterygian Fish with Secondary Sexual Characteristics Found from Middle Triassic of China
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