''Eokrefftia'' ("dawn ''
Krefftia''") is an extinct genus of
lanternfish
Lanternfish (or myctophids, from the Greek language, Greek μυκτήρ ''myktḗr'', "nose" and ''ophis'', "serpent") are small mesopelagic fish of the large family (biology), family Myctophidae. One of two families in the order Myctophiformes, ...
that inhabited the seas around Europe and Australia throughout the
Paleogene
The Paleogene Period ( ; also spelled Palaeogene or Palæogene) is a geologic period and system that spans 43 million years from the end of the Cretaceous Period Ma (million years ago) to the beginning of the Neogene Period Ma. It is the fir ...
.
Known only from its distinctive fossilized
otoliths
An otolith (, ' ear + , ', a stone), also called otoconium, statolith, or statoconium, is a calcium carbonate structure in the saccule or utricle of the inner ear, specifically in the vestibular system of vertebrates. The saccule and utricle, i ...
, it appears to be one of the earliest definitive fossil members of the lanternfish lineage. It may belong to the extinct subfamily
Eomyctophinae.
The following species are known:
* †''E. paviai''
Schwarzhans & Carnevale, 2024 -
late Oligocene
The Chattian is, in the geologic timescale
The geologic time scale or geological time scale (GTS) is a representation of time based on the rock record of Earth. It is a system of chronological dating that uses chronostratigraphy (the pro ...
of Italy (
Antognola Formation)
* †''E. prediaphus''
Schwarzhans, 1985 (
type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
) -
late Paleocene
The Thanetian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy, ICS Geologic timescale, the latest age (geology), age or uppermost stage (stratigraphy), stratigraphic stage of the Paleocene epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), Serie ...
of
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
(
Dartmoor Formation)
* †''E. sulci''
(Nolf, 1988) - Early to Late Eocene (
Ypresian
In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age (geology), age or lowest stage (stratigraphy), stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between , is preceded by the Thanetian Age (part of the Paleocene) and is followed by th ...
to
Priabonian
The Priabonian is, in the ICS's geologic timescale, the latest age or the upper stage of the Eocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between . The Priabonian is preceded by the Bartonian and is followed by the Rupelian, the lowest stage ...
) of Italy (
Marne di Monte Piano Formation), Middle Eocene (
Lutetian
The Lutetian is, in the geologic timescale, a stage (stratigraphy), stage or age (geology), age in the Eocene. It spans the time between . The Lutetian is preceded by the Ypresian and is followed by the Bartonian. Together with the Bartonian it ...
) of France (
Aquitaine Basin
The Aquitaine Basin is the second largest Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary basin in France after the Paris Basin, occupying a large part of the country's southwestern quadrant. Its surface area covers 66,000 km2 onshore. It formed on Varisca ...
)
(=''Diaphus sulci''
Nolf, 1988)
The otoliths of ''Eokrefftia'' can be easily confused with those of the extant lanternfish genus ''
Diaphus'', which are also present as fossils in the same deposits.
References
{{Myctophiformes-stub
Prehistoric ray-finned fish genera
Myctophidae
Prehistoric fish of Australia
Cenozoic fish of Oceania
Paleocene fish
Eocene fish of Europe
Oligocene fish of Europe
Fossils of France
Fossils of Italy
Thanetian genus first appearances
Ypresian genera
Lutetian genera
Bartonian genera
Priabonian genera
Chattian genus extinctions
Fossil taxa described in 1985