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Genus Sciades Müller & Troschel, 1849 TYPE SPECIES. — Sciades emphysetus Müller & Troschel, 1849 (type species by original designation)., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on page 335, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["MULLER J. & TROSCHEL F. H. 1849. - Horae Ichthyologicae. Beschreibung und Abbildung neuer Fische. Horae Ichthyol 3: 1 - 27. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6935"]}

Class ACTINOPTERI Cope, 1871 REMARKS For nomenclature priority of Actinopteri instead of Actinopterygii Klein, 1885, see Schwarzhans et al. 2020., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on page 332, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["COPE E. D. 1871. - Contribution to the ichthyology of the Lesser Antilles. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 14 (3): 445 - 483. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1005256","KLEIN E. E. 1885. - Beitrage zur Bildung des Schadels der Knochenfische II. Jahreshefte des Vereins fur vaterlandische Naturkunde in Wurttemberg 41: 107 - 261. https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 7794985","SCHWARZHANS W., STRINGER G. & FRICKE R. 2020. - On the authorship of Actinopteri and Actinopterygii. Cybium 44 (1): 7 - 8. https: // doi. org / 10.26028 / cybium / 2020 - 441 - 001"]}

Genus Potamotrygon Garman, 1877 TYPE SPECIES. — Trygon histrix Müller & Henle, 1841 (type species by original designation; Garman 1877)., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on page 332, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["GARMAN S. 1877. - On the pelvis and external sexual organs of selachians, with special reference to the new genera Potamotrygon and Disceus. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History 19: 197 - 215.","MULLER J. & HENLE F. G. J. 1841. - Systematische Beschreibung der Plagiostomen. Veit, Berlin, 200 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 6906"]}

Oxydoras sp. (Fig. 3 C1-C3). MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Incomplete neurocranium (ULA-1316). LOCALITY. — Villavieja Fm. LA-3 (fish bed) (seeFig.1B; Appendix 1). DESCRIPTION ULA-1316 is an incomplete neurocranium of 51 mm in length, preserving only the anterior section of the skull (Fig. 3 C1-C3), and is assigned here to Oxydoras. It preserves a complete mesethmoid bone clearly observable in both dorsal and ventral views. It has an elongate arrow-shape with a bifid anterior tip, and a convex profile in lateral view (Fig. 3 C1). In dorsal view, the anterior section of both right and left frontals and both right and left lateral ethmoids are articulated to the mesethmoid; the most proximal section of the anterior cranial fontanelle is also preserved (Fig. 3 C1). The ornamentation of the skull is not well defined, possibly as a result of erosion. In ventral view, the mesethmoid, vomer, remnants of what appear to be lateral ethmoids, and the parasphenoid are preserved (Fig. 3 C2). The vomer has an arrow-shaped anterior section and seems to have reduced anterolateral processes; its posterior section is elongated and narrow, being enclosed in the anterior bifid tip of the parasphenoid. REMARKS ULA-1316 possess a mesethmoid bone similar to those present in living and fossil representatives of Oxydoras, which can be differentiated from the mesethmoid bones of any other living (Birindelli 2014) or fossil (see Lundberg et al. 2010) species of doradid. The thorny catfish Oxydoras is represented by three extant species, Oxydoras niger (Valenciennes in Humboldt & Valenciennes, 1821), Oxydoras kneri Bleeker, 1862a, and Oxydoras sifontesi Fernández-Yépez, 1968, from the Amazon, Essequibo, Orinoco and Paraná basins. These species occur over mud in streams and lakes, but are also present in large rivers (Froese & Pauly 2022). The only fossil of Oxydoras known to date corresponds to an isolated mesethmoid bone from the Miocene of Peru illustrated by Lundberg et al. (2010). Although ULA-1316 resembles the skull of the extant O. niger (see Birindelli 2014; Prestes-Carneiro et al. 2019), and/ or the other two living species O. kneri and O. sifontesi, its incomplete and poor state of preservation make it difficult to associate this fossil specimen with any of these extant species. The skulls of the extant species of Oxydoras usually present well-defined ornamentation (see Birindelli 2014: fig. 25); in the case of ULA-1316, the ornamentation pattern is not well-defined or is absent, possibly as a consequence associated with taphonomic processes or erosion of the fossil during its exposure in the outcrop. Due to that, ULA-1316 is tentatively assigned to Oxydoras sp. This fossil specimen from the middle Miocene of the Honda Group, and the isolated mesethmoid bone from the Miocene (Lundberg et al. 2010), are to date the only known fossils of Oxydoras., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on pages 335-336, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["BIRINDELLI J. L. O. 2014. - Phylogenetic relationships of the South American Doradoidea (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes). Neotropical Ichthyology 2 (3): 451 - 564. https: // doi. org / 10.1590 / 1982 - 0224 - 20120027","LUNDBERG J. G., SABAJ PEREZ M. H., DAHDUL W. M. & AGUILERA O. A. 2010. - The Amazonian Neogene fish fauna, in HOORN C. & WESSELINGH F. (eds), Amazonia: Landscape and Species Evolution. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford: 281 - 301.","HUMBOLDT F. H. A. V. & VALENCIENNES A. 1821. - Recherches sur les poissons fluviatiles de l'Amerique Equinoxiale, in Voyage de Humboldt et Bonpland, deuxieme partie. Observations de Zoologie et d'Anatomie comparee. Vol. 2. Schoell, Dufour, Paris: 145 - 216.","BLEEKER P. 1862 a. - Atlas ichthyologique des Indes Orientales Neerlandaises. Publie sous les auspices du Gouvernement Colonial Neerlandais. Tome 2, SiluroIdes, chacoIdes et heterobranchoIdes. Frederic Mueller, Amsterdam, 112 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 67474","FERNANDEZ-YEPEZ A. 1968. - Contribucion al conocimiento de la familia Doradidae en Venezuela. Boletin del Instituto Oceanografico, Universidad de Oriente 7 (1): 7 - 72.","FROESE R. & PAULY D. (EDS) 2022. - FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. https: // www. fishbase. org (02 / 2022)","PRESTES-CARNEIRO G., BEAREZ P., SHOCK M. P., PRUMERS H. & JAIMES BETANCOURT C. 2019. - Pre-Hispanic fishing practices in interfluvial Amazonia: Zooarchaeological evidence from managed landscapes on the Llanos de Mojos savanna. Plos One 14 (5): e 0214638. https: // doi. org / 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0214638"]}

Phractocephalus sp. (Fig. 3 D-M). MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Fourteen skull fragments (IGM-87- 314, -2221-f-a, -2382-b (no. 2), and VPPLT-223, 421(no. 2), 422 (no. 2), 742, 1128, 1272, 1282, 1432); a pectoral girdle (IGM-s/n), and 12 pectoral/dorsal fragmented spines (IGM-2285-c, ULA-44, and VPPLT-043 (no. 4), 417, 473, 474, 1092, 1478, 1482). LOCALITIES. — La Victoria Fm. Diomatal-Museo La Tormenta (VPPLT-1478, 1-482); Km-121 (VPPLT-043, 223, 742, 1128, 1432); Tatacoita (VPPLT-417, 421, 422, 470, 473, 474, 1092); San Nicolás (VPPLT-1272, 1282). — Villavieja Fm. Duke 46 (IGM-87-314); LA 2 (ULA-44). — Indeterminate Fm. Alrededor del Campamento de la Venta, Villa vieja (IGM-2382-h); Norte del Punto 16 (IGM-2221-h-a); NW del Campamento de la Venta, Villavieja (IGM-2285-c) (see Fig. 1B; Appendix 1). DESCRIPTION The dorsal surface of the skull, including the sphenotic, pterotic, and parieto-supraoccipital bones, has well-developed dorsal ornamentation characterized by dense, deep, and rounded pits surrounded by a thick and tall crest arranged in a mosaic (Fig. 3 D-I). The ornamentation in the frontal and the parieto-supraoccipital bones are characterized by elongated and parallel pits delimited by a stronger crest. These ornamentation patterns of elongated and parallel pits, gutter-like, are slightly interrupted at the middle part by changes in the ornamentation pattern that consist of disperse oval pits (Fig. 3 D). The postero-lateral laminar projections of the parieto-supraoccipital bone form a thick and strong arch on both sides. The external surface is densely ornamented with small pits irregularly arranged. However, the entire bone expansion is not complete, and the distal smooth edge is not preserved (Fig. 3 E-F). The ornamentation on the pterotic bone shows a pattern of parallel alignment of the pits. The largest pits are arranged in the medial region, and the minor ones are aligned in the outermost region of the bone (Fig. 3 G). The sphenotic has a stronger anastomosing ridge on the dorsal surface (Fig. 3 H). The pectoral girdle is robust with the posterior process of the cleithrum expanded in a thick laminar bone in a triangular-shape. The outer surface is densely ornamented with a series of pits arranged in oblique rows in most of the upper area, and pits in a random distribution on the lower area. Both, the anterior dorsal process and posterior dorsal process of the cleithrum are robust (Fig. 3J). The ornamentation in the pectoral spines form elongated, crossed and irregular crest without rounded or ovoid pits. The anterior edge has small acute spines oriented posteriorly and on the posterior edge the small spines are robust, and obtuse without a well-defined orientation (Fig. 3 K-M). REMARKS Phractocephalus is represented by the single extant species P. hemioliopterus. The fossil record of the genus includes † Phractocephalus nassi Lundberg & Aguilera, 2003, from the late Miocene Urumaco Fm in Venezuela, † Phractocephalus acreornatus Aguilera et al., 2008, from the late Miocene Solimões Fm in Brazil, and † Phractocephalus yaguaron Bogan & Agnolin, 2019, from late Miocene Ituzaingó Formation, Argentina. † Phractocephalus ivy Azpelicueta & Cione, 2016, from late the Miocene of Argentina was recently referred to the extant genus Steindachneridion Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1919 (see Bogan & Agnolín 2019). The skull bones of Phractocephalus from the Honda Group can be distinguished from those of extinct species by the stronger ornamentation pattern, density, and depth of the circular pits surrounded by thick crest arranged in a mosaic-like pattern vs. less skull ornamentation in † P. acreornatus and † P. nassi. Skull bones in † P. yaguaron are strongly ornamented with reticulating ridges and subcircular pits (see Azpelicueta & Cione 2016; Bogan & Agnolín 2019), a pattern that is relatively different from the specimens from the Honda Group, where ornamentation, especially in frontal and the parieto-supraoccipital bones, show continuous elongated and parallel pits (see Fig. 3 D-F). Lundberg (1997) described a partial mesethmoid bone and a fragmented pectoral-spine (Lundberg 1997: fig. 5.9A) from the Fish Bed locality as extant P. hemioliopterus; nevertheless, these materials were later referred to as too incomplete to assess their species status (Lundberg & Aguilera 2003). The ornamental pattern on specimens from the Honda Group shows clear differences from the skull ornamentation in the extant P. hemioliopterus (e.g., see skulls illustrated in Lundberg & Aguilera 2003; Aguilera et al. 2008; Bogan & Agnolín 2019). Based on the skull and pectoral/dorsal spine ornamentation, the Phractocephalus specimens from the Honda group is most closely related to † P. nassi. Nevertheless, by the fragmentary conditions of bones and the absence of well-preserved diagnostic elements to support an accurate diagnosis and description, we tentatively use an open nomenclature for the Phractocephalus specimens from the Honda Group. Phractocephalus hemioliopterus occurs in a broad range of habitats, from large rivers to flooded forests and lakes, with a wide distribution in the Orinoco and the Amazon (van der Sleen & Albert 2018). Recently, a reticulate nuchal plate attributed to Phractocephalus sp. was recorded from the middle Miocene Castilletes Formation in the Guajira Peninsula, northern Colombia (Ballen et al. 2021a), and this report, together with the other fossil Phractocephalus from northwestern Venezuela (Lundberg & Aguilera 2003) suggests a broader distribution of the genus during the Miocene and support ancient connections between trans-Andean and cis-Andean drainages. Other siluriforms taxa reported herein (Table 1) and in previous works (e.g., Lundberg 1997, 2005) for the Honda Group include Hoplosternum Gill, 1858 (Fig. 3 N-P), the loricariids cf. Acanthicus Agassiz, 1829 (Fig. 3U 1-U 2), and cf. Hypostomus Lacépède, 1803 (Fig. 3V 1-V 2), and the pimelodids Brachyplatystoma (Fig. 4A 1-B 2), and Pimelodus Lacépède, 1803 (Fig. 4C). The goliath catfish † Brachyplatystoma promagdalena Lundberg, 2005, was described from the Fish Bed layer.Tentatively we designate the siluriforms as the most diverse fish group of the Honda Group (Fig. 5). Other bony fishes reported from the Honda Group (see Table 1) includes cynodontids or “dogtooth characins” (Fig. 4E 1-F 2), “piranha-like” and “pacu” serrasalmids (Fig. 4G 1-M), dipnoids (Fig. 4D 1-D 2), and osteoglossiforms (Fig. 4N 1-N 2)., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on pages 336-338, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["LUNDBERG J. G. & AGUILERA O. 2003. - The late Miocene Phractocephalus catfish (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from Urumaco, Venezuela: additional specimens and reinterpretation as a distinct species. Neotropical Ichthyology 1 (2): 97 - 109. https: // doi. org / 10.1590 / S 1679 - 62252003000200004","AGUILERA O. A., BOCQUENTIN J., BRANCO R., LUNDBERG J. G. & MACIENTE A. 2008. - A new cajaro catfish (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae: Phractocephalus) from the Late Miocene of southwestern Amazonia and its relationship to † Phractocephalus nassi of the Urumaco Formation. Palaontologische Zeitschrift 82 (2): 231 - 245. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / Bf 02988412","BOGAN S. & AGNOLIN F. L. 2019. - Phractocephaline catfishes from the late Miocene of Argentina, with the description of a new taxon. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 39 (4): e 1676254. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 02724634.2019.1676254","AZPELICUETA M. D. L. M. & CIONE A. L. 2016. - A southern species of the tropical catfish genus Phractocephalus (Teleostei: Siluriformes) in the Miocene of South America. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 67: 221 - 230. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jsames. 2016.03.002","EIGENMANN C. H. & EIGENMANN R. S. 1919. - Steindachneridion. Science 50 (1301): 525 - 6. https: // doi. org / 10.1126 / science. 50.1301.525. b","LUNDBERG J. G. 1997. - Fishes of the La Venta fauna: Additional taxa, biotic and paleoenvironmental implications, in KAY R. F., MADDEN R. H., CIFELLI R. L. & FLYNN J. J. (eds.), Vertebrate Paleontology in the Neotropics. The Miocene Fauna of La Venta, Colombia. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London: 67 - 91.","VAN DER SLEEN P. & ALBERT J. S. 2018. - Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princenton University Press, New Jersey, 464 p.","BALLEN G. A., JARAMILLO C., DAGOSTA F. C. P. & DE PINNA M. C. C. 2021 a. - A fossil fish assemblage from the middle Miocene of the Cocinetas Basin, northern Colombia. Papers in Palaeontology 8 (1): e 1405. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / spp 2.1405","LUNDBERG J. G. 2005. - Brachyplatystoma promagdalena, new species, a fossil goliath catfish (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from the Miocene of Colombia, South America. Neotropical Ichthyology 3 (4): 597 - 605. https: // doi. org / 10.1590 / S 1679 - 62252005000400017","GILL T. N. 1858. - Synopsis of The Fresh Water Fishes of The Western Portion of The Island of Trinidad, West Indies. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 6: 363 - 430. https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 16023585","AGASSIZ L. 1829 - 1831. - \" Pisces brasiliensis \", in SPIX J. B. V., AGASSIZ L. & MARTIUS K. F. P. V. (eds), Selecta genera et species piscium quos in itinere per Brasiliam annis MDCCCXVII-MDCCCXX: jussu et auspiciis Maximiliani Josephi I. Bavariae regis augustissimi peracto. Typis C. Wolf, Monachii [Munchen], 138 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 157964","LACEPEDE B. G. E. 1803. - Histoire naturelle des poissons. Vol. 5, Paris, Plassan, 803 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 11645"]}

Genus Cichla Bloch & Schneider, 1801 TYPE SPECIES. — Cichla ocellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801 (type species by original designation)., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on page 334, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["BLOCH M. E. & SCHNEIDER J. G. 1801. - M. E. Blochii [...] Systema ichthyologiae iconibus ex illustratum. Post obitum auctoris opus inchoatum absolvit, correxit, interpolavit. Saxo, J. G. Schneider, 584 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5750"]}

cf. Astronotus sp. (Fig. 2 H1-H4). MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Isolated dentary bone (VPPLT-668A) LOCALITY. — La Victoria Fm. Tatacoita (see Fig. 1 B; Appendix 1). DESCRIPTION VPPLT-668A is a short and high left dentary bone, 22 mm in length and missing the posterior part of the mandibular sensory canal and the coronoid process (Fig. 2 H1-H4). The dorsal margin is well preserved, but all teeth are missing. There are approximately six circular tooth implantation rows, with the first three from the outer border best defined (Fig. 2 H3). Enlarged bases characterize the outer tooth row, reaching up to twice the diameter of those bases of the other inner rows. The external face of the dentary has three well-developed foramina on the bony mandibular canal. The largest one is oval in shape (Fig. 2 H1) and corresponds with the foramen “f.5” referred by Casciotta & Arratia (1993). In the ventral section of the dentary, abundant small foramina can be observed. REMARKS Our comparison (based on osteological collections and literature review) suggests that VPPLT-668A is clearly different from other medium/large sizes South American cichlids such as Acaronia Myers, 1940, Aequidens Eigenmann & Bray, 1894, Caquetaia Fowler, 1945, Cichla Bloch & Schneider, 1801, Cichlasoma Swainson, 1839, Crenicichla Heckel, 1840, Geophagus Heckel, 1840, Retroculus Eigenmann & Bray, 1894, Satanoperca Günther, 1862, Symphysodon Heckel, 1840, and Uaru Heckel, 1840. The dentary shape and the pattern and size of the tooth implantation rows in VPPLT-668A resemble the jaw morphology of Astronotus (see Fig. 2 I1-I2). These are features that are “apparently” observed only in this genus; although this should be confirmed in the future with more detailed studies on cranial elements of the South American cichlids. Our osteological comparisons with specimens of Astronotus were restricted to Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz, 1831). The genus Astronotus is represented by three extant species, Astronotus ocellatus, Astronotus crassipinnis (Heckel, 1840), and Astronotus mikoljii (Pérez-Lozano et al. 2022). The natural distribution of Astronotus includes the Amazon, Orinoco, upper Paraná, and French Guiana basins (Pérez-Lozano et al. 2022), with habitat preference of quiet shallow waters (van der Sleen & Albert 2018). Due to the state of preservation of VPPLT-668A, and the absence of more specimens with other diagnostic characters, we are unable to classify this fossil beyond cf. Astronotus sp. The presence of cf. Astronotus in the middle Miocene of the Honda Group represents the first fossil record for the genus. Neotropical cichlids, with at least 44 genera, constitute the third most speciose group of freshwater fishes in South America (van der Sleen & Albert 2018). Despite the high species richness, few studies based on comparative descriptions of cranial elements (e.g., dentaries, maxillary, and premaxillary bones) have been carried out (e.g., Casciotta & Arratia 1993). One of the problems added to the study of isolated fossil cichlid dentaries is that the morphology of dentary bone is similar among Neotropical cichlids (Casciotta & Arratia 1993). Nevertheless, morphological features can allow some tentative assignments as long as the comparisons are supported by diversity in comparative osteological material., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on page 334, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["CASCIOTTA J. R. & ARRATIA G. 1993. - Jaws and teeth of American cichlids (Pisces: Labroidei). Journal of Morphology 217 (1): 1 - 36. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / jmor. 1052170102","MYERS G. S. 1940. - Suppression of Acaropsis and Chalcinus, two preoccupied generic names of South American fresh-water fishes. Stanford Ichthyological Bulletin 1 (5): 1 - 170.","EIGENMANN C. H. & BRAY W. L. 1894. - A revision of the American Cichlidae. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 7 (1): 607 - 624. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1749 - 6632.1893. tb 55412. x","FOWLER H. W. 1945. - Colombian zoological survey. Part I. The fresh-water fishes obtained in 1945. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 97: 93 - 135. https: // www. jstor. org / stable / 4064382","BLOCH M. E. & SCHNEIDER J. G. 1801. - M. E. Blochii [...] Systema ichthyologiae iconibus ex illustratum. Post obitum auctoris opus inchoatum absolvit, correxit, interpolavit. Saxo, J. G. Schneider, 584 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5750","SWAINSON W. 1839. - On the Natural History and Classification of Fishes, Amphibians, & Reptiles. Longman, Orme, Brown, Green & Longmans, and John Taylor, London, 448 p.","HECKEL J. J. 1840. - Johann Natterer's neue Flussfische Brasilien's nach den Beobachtungen und Mittheilungen des Entdeckers beschrieben (Erste Abtheilung, Die Labroiden). Annalen des Wiener Museums der Naturgeschichte 2: 325 - 471. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 101457","GUNTHER A. C. L. G. 1862. - Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. Vol. 5. Catalogue of the Acanthopterygii, Pharyngognathi and Anacanthini in the Collection of the British Museum. Trustees, London, 534 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 8809","PEREZ-LOZANO A., LASSO-ALCALA O. M., BITTENCOURT P. S., TAPHORN D. C., PEREZ N. & FARIAS I. P. 2022. - A new species of Astronotus (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from the Orinoco River and Gulf of Paria basins, northern South America. ZooKeys 1113: 111 - 52. https: // doi. org / 10.3897 / zookeys. 1113.81240","VAN DER SLEEN P. & ALBERT J. S. 2018. - Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princenton University Press, New Jersey, 464 p."]}

Genus Phractocephalus Agassiz, 1829 TYPE SPECIES. — Phractocephalus bicolor Agassiz, 1829, by monotypy, a junior objective synonym of Silurus hemioliopterus Bloch & Schneider, 1801., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on page 336, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["AGASSIZ L. 1829 - 1831. - \" Pisces brasiliensis \", in SPIX J. B. V., AGASSIZ L. & MARTIUS K. F. P. V. (eds), Selecta genera et species piscium quos in itinere per Brasiliam annis MDCCCXVII-MDCCCXX: jussu et auspiciis Maximiliani Josephi I. Bavariae regis augustissimi peracto. Typis C. Wolf, Monachii [Munchen], 138 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 157964","BLOCH M. E. & SCHNEIDER J. G. 1801. - M. E. Blochii [...] Systema ichthyologiae iconibus ex illustratum. Post obitum auctoris opus inchoatum absolvit, correxit, interpolavit. Saxo, J. G. Schneider, 584 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 5750"]}

† Sciades maldonadonis n. sp. (Fig. 3 A1-A3) urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A20896FF-45B6-4E90-9A8C-22E9A791748E DIAGNOSIS. — The combination of extremely depressed lapillus otolith, regularly clam-shaped outline, sharp antero-medial projection, strongly arched dorsal margin anteriorly and oblique-straight posteriorly distinguish † Sciades maldonadonis n. sp. from extant Sciades species, extinct brackish and freshwater species (e.g., † Cantarius Aguilera et al., 2013b), and extant South American freshwater species (Chinchaysuyoa Marceniuk et al., 2019a, and Paragenidens Marceniuk et al., 2019a). TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype VPPLT-832. A complete lapillus otolith (Fig. 3 A1-A3), preserved length 20.94 mm, width 16.84 mm, thickness 7.08 mm. TYPE LOCALITY. — La Victoria Fm. Morrongo 1 (see Fig. 1 B; Appendix 1). DERIVATION OF NAME. — The species is named in honor of Dr Javier Alejandro Maldonado-Ocampo (1977-†2019), renowned Colombian ichthyologist who passed away on 2 March 2019 during an expedition to the Río Vaupés in Colombia. Javier dedicated more than twenty years to the study and conservation of the freshwater fish fauna of Colombia, including the Andes, Orinoco and Amazon basins. DESCRIPTION The lapillus otolith is clam-shaped with a semi-circular outline, very depressed dorso-ventrally, and with a sharp antero-medial projection (Fig. 3 A1, A2). The dorsal margin is strongly arched anteriorly and oblique-straight posteriorly. The ventral margin is strongly arched. The posterior margin forms an obtuse angle. The lateral profile is slightly biconvex. The pseudocauda and the mesial inward curvature are not well preserved. The umbo is located in the center of the dorsal surface. The lapillus length to width ratio: 1.2. Lapillus length to thickness ratio: 3.0. REMARKS VPPLT-832 is characterized by a typical Ariidae otolith morphology. The recognition of † Sciades maldonadonis n. sp. as a member of Sciades is based on its otolith morphology, which is characterized by the combination of extremely depressed dorsoventral shape and by the dorsal margin being strongly arched anteriorly, and oblique-straight posteriorly. This allows it to be differentiated from the other Sciades species (for comparative proposes see Aguilera et al. 2020: figs. 4.49-4.60; 6.9-6.12). Marceniuk et al. (2017) reviewed the genus Sciades and showed a strong morphological relationship between nominal genera Sciades and Ariopsis Gill, 1861. More than seven extant Sciades species are currently recognized (Froese & Pauly 2022). The age of diversification of modern species of Sciades is older than 9 Ma (including Sciades dowii Gill, 1863, from the Pacific), and the age of the Atlantic Sciades species is c. 6.7 Ma (4-8Ma) (Betancur-R.2009). † Sciades maldonadonis n. sp. came from a freshwater palaeoenvironment in the middle Miocene rocks of the Honda Group, associated with a wide diversity of freshwater fishes, crocodylians, snakes, lizards, turtles, and mammals (e.g., Kay et al. 1997; Carrillo et al. 2015; Cadena et al. 2019, 2020; Defler 2019). The ancestral form of freshwater catfish Ariidae otolith-based species from the western Amazon included † Cantarius nolfi Aguilera, Moraes-Santos, Costa, Ohe, Jaramillo & Nogueira, 2013b, and † Cantarius ohei Schwarzhans, Aguilera, Scheyer & Carrillo-Briceño, 2022, recorded from the Miocene Pebas wetland system at the Pebas Formation (Carrillo-Briceño et al. 2021b; Schwarzhans et al. 2022). In North, Central, and South America, six extant ariid species are primarily freshwater, including Chinchaysuyoa labiata Boulenger, 1898, Chinchaysuyoa ortegai Marceniuk, Marchena, Oliveira & Betancur-R, 2019a, Paragenidens grandoculis Steindachner, 1877, Paragenidens nelsoni Evermann & Goldsborough, 1902, Paragenidens izabalensis Hubbs & Miller, 1960, and Paragenidens usumacintae Betancur-R & Willink, 2007 (Marceniuk & Menezes 2007; Marceniuk et al. 2019a, b). On the other hand, fossil skull-based species of † Sciades latissimum Aguilera & Marceniuk, 2018, and † Sciades peregrinus Aguilera & Marceniuk, 2018 without preserved internal otolith, were described from the late Miocene Urumaco Fm, Venezuela, characterized by palaeoenvironments associated to a large palaeo-hydrographic system of the Orinoco/ Amazonas discharging into the proto-Caribbean Sea (Aguilera et al. 2020). Other ariid remains from the Honda Group include two isolated dorsal-spine fragments ornamented by rugose tuberculations, from the Duke 24 (see Lundberg 1997) and Mini Desierto localities (VPPLT-1108; Figs 1 B, 3 B1-B3). Sedimentary characteristics and the associated fauna from the Honda Group support that VPPLT-832 and the indeterminate ariid spines were from a freshwater palaeoenvironment.

cf. Cichla sp. (Fig. 2 J1-J3). MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Isolated dentary bone (VPPLT-668B). LOCALITY. — La Victoria Fm. Tatacoita (see Fig. 1 B; Appendix 1). DESCRIPTION VPPLT-668B is an incomplete dentary bone of 16 mm in length, missing the posterior part of the mandibular sensory canal and the coronoid process (Fig. 2 J1-J2). The external face of the dentary preserves four well-developed foramina on the bony mandibular canal, the two smallest being located close to the dentary symphysis. All teeth are missing, and the preserved dorsal margin is characterized by six to seven circular tooth implantations rows of small size. REMARKS VPPLT-668B is easily distinguishable from VPPLT-668A assigned to cf. Astronotus. Our osteological comparisons suggest a close resemblance between VPPLT-668B and the dentaries of extant Cichla species (Fig. 2 K1-K3) than with those of Crenicichla or other medium/large sizes South American cichlids. Although VPPLT-668B is incomplete, its dentary shape and the pattern and size of the tooth implantations rows resemble the jaw morphology of Cichla species. However, due to the state of preservation of VPPLT-668B and the absence of more specimens, for now, we prefer to refer to this fossil as cf. Cichla sp. The genus Cichla, contains the largest cichlid of South America, and is represented by at least 15 species from the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas (Froese & Pauly 2022). The extant species have a wide range of habitat preferences, including rivers and floodplain lakes (van der Sleen & Albert 2018). The presence of cf. Cichla in the middle Miocene of the Honda Group represents the first fossil record for the genus. From the Honda Group, Lundberg (1997) reported three premaxillaries, three dentaries, and two anguloarticular bones in fragmentary condition as indeterminate cichlids from the Fish Bed locality, suggesting a lack of morphological characters and relation to modern cichlids. Future work with more detailed anatomical comparisons on the specimens that Lundberg (1997) reported could support or contrast these assignments. Other new cichlid material reported herein includes an isolated anal spine (VPPLT-1164) coming from the Km 121 locality (Appendix 1). The spine is 18 mm in length, robust and elongated, with a sharp end at the apical section, and typical of the anal region (Fig. 2 L1-L2); nevertheless, taxonomic identification based on isolated spines is not possible., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on page 334, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["FROESE R. & PAULY D. (EDS) 2022. - FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. https: // www. fishbase. org (02 / 2022)","VAN DER SLEEN P. & ALBERT J. S. 2018. - Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princenton University Press, New Jersey, 464 p.","LUNDBERG J. G. 1997. - Fishes of the La Venta fauna: Additional taxa, biotic and paleoenvironmental implications, in KAY R. F., MADDEN R. H., CIFELLI R. L. & FLYNN J. J. (eds.), Vertebrate Paleontology in the Neotropics. The Miocene Fauna of La Venta, Colombia. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London: 67 - 91."]}

Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés, Aguilera, Orangel (2023): New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia. Geodiversitas 45 (10): 327-351, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10

Genus Oxydoras Kner, 1855 TYPE SPECIES. — Oxydoras kneri Bleeker, 1862a (type species by original designation)., Published as part of Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D., Mora-Rojas, Laura, Hendricks, Kimberly, Vanegas, Andrés & Aguilera, Orangel, 2023, New clues on the palaeodiversity of the middle Miocene freshwater ichthyofauna from the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia, pp. 327-351 in Geodiversitas 45 (10) on page 335, DOI: 10.5252/geodiversitas2023v45a10, http://zenodo.org/record/8056044, {"references":["KNER R. 1855. - Ichthyologische Beitrage [Subtitles I-III]. Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe 17: 92 - 162. https: // www. biodiversitylibrary. org / page / 34646777","BLEEKER P. 1862 a. - Atlas ichthyologique des Indes Orientales Neerlandaises. Publie sous les auspices du Gouvernement Colonial Neerlandais. Tome 2, SiluroIdes, chacoIdes et heterobranchoIdes. Frederic Mueller, Amsterdam, 112 p. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 67474"]}

We document the first occurrence of Sigmodontinae (Mammalia, Rodentia, Cricetidae) from the Pliocene of northern South America, from the San Gregorio Formation of northwestern Venezuela. The recovered isolated molars are identified as Oligoryzomys sp. and Zygodontomys sp., two currently widespread sigmodontines in South America. These records constitute the oldest representatives of these genera, potentially new species, and the first Pliocene occurrence for Oryzomyini and the whole subfamily outside Argentina. Hypotheses on the historical biogeography of sigmodontines have been constructed almost exclusively using genetic data and the fossils we report provide a new kind of evidence. The occurrence of Oligoryzomys sp. and Zygodontomys sp. in Venezuela provides novel information for the diversification models suggested for Oligoryzomys, by supporting a potential eastern corridor of open environments from northern to southern South America. The presence of sigmodontines from the locality home of the new reports, Norte Casa Chiguaje, is consistent with the palaeoenvironmental conditions originally proposed for it base on mammals and botanical records, being characterized as mixed open grassland/forest areas surrounding permanent freshwater systems. The new sigmodontine evidence is used to discuss the putative scenarios of the ancient evolution of the subfamily in South America, favouring a model in which open areas (savannahs) to the east of the Andes played crucial role aiding or obstructing Late Miocene-Pliocene sigmodontine dispersion southwards.

Shark–cetacean trophic interactions, preserved as bite marks in the fossil record, mostly correspond to isolated or fragmentary findings that bear limited information about major trophic patterns or roles. Here, we provide evidence of focalized foraging by sharks in the form of tooth bite marks over physeteroids fossil bones from the late Miocene of Peru. These findings indicate that sharks were targeting the forehead of coeval physeteroids to actively feed on their lipid-rich nasal complexes. Miocene physeteroids displayed a broad diversity, including giant predatorial forms, small benthic foragers and suction feeders. Like their extant relatives, these animals exhibited enlarged fatty forehead organs responsible for their sound production capabilities, thus evolving taxon-specific cranial architecture. Bite marks are found on the cranial bones where these structures were attached, indicating that sharks actively targeted this region; but also, in areas that would only be accessible following the consumption of the surrounding soft tissues. The shape of the bite marks and their distribution suggests a series of consecutive scavenging events by individuals of different shark species. Similar bite patterns can be recognized on other Miocene physeteroids fossils from across the globe, suggesting that sharks actively exploited physeteroid carcasses as fat sources.

A small assemblage of 22 otoliths was identified from the historical collection of Bluntschli and Peyer gathered in 1912 on the Itaya riverbank at Iquitos, Peru (Amazonia), from the Pebas Formation. The Pebas Mega-Wetland System in western Amazonia during the Miocene represented a unique, albeit short-lived, biotope characterized by a pronounced endemic evolution with gigantism in some vertebrate groups (e.g., turtles, crocodylians). Thus far, fishes have mainly been recorded based on isolated skeletal remains and teeth. Here, we describe the first well-preserved otolith assemblage from the Pebas Formation. This otolith assemblage adds a new facet to the fauna by complementing the skeletal bony fish data, primarily with species of the Sciaenidae and, to a lesser extent, Ariidae and Cichlidae. The sciaenids and ariids indicate that migration must have occurred between the marginal marine environments to the north and the Pebas Wetland System. The otoliths also indicate the likelihood of endemic developments of adapted marine immigrants to the Pebas Wetland System, some of which have become extinct (Pogonias, Umbrina), while others now represent typical South American freshwater fish groups (Plagioscion). Six new species are described based on otoliths, one in the Cichlidae—Cichlasoma bluntschlii n. sp., one in the Ariidae—Cantarius ohei n. sp., and four in the Sciaenidae—Pebasciaena amazoniensis n. gen. et n. sp., Plagioscion peyeri n. sp., Pogonias tetragonus n. sp. and Umbrina pachaula n. sp.