A New Family Salwaichthyidae (Pisces, Perciformes s.l.) from the Lower Oligocene of the Caucasus and Carpathians

Salwaichthys paratethyensis gen. et sp. nov., representative of a new monotypic family of perciform fishes Salwaichthyidae, is described based on three specimens from the lower Oligocene of the Caucasus (Abkhazia and SW Russia, Adygea) and Polish Carpathians. The new family is characterized by: elongated body with relatively small head and long caudal peduncle, large mouth, divided dorsal fins, numerous (about 55) vertebrae and their rostro-caudal compression, and small cycloid scales. Salwaichthys shares a number of apomorphic features with members of certain perciform families, most notably the Propercarinidae. However, because of its unique combination of features, the new family cannot be properly placed within any known perciform suborder and it is placed herein incertae sedis among the Perciformes.