Revision of Ichthyotringa africana, marine fish (Teleostei, Aulopiformes) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Eurafrican Mesogea. Considerations on the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Ichthyotringa

The osteology of Ichthlyotringa africana from the marine Upper Cretaceous of the Eurafrican Mesogea is studied and the systematic position of Ichthyolringa discussed. Four apomorphies prove that this genus belongs to the Aulopiformes : the presence of postero-medial processes on the pelvic bones, the epipleural series beginning from the first vertebra, the first epipleurals located at the level of the horizontal septum, and the preural neural spine I reduced and spatulate. The lengthening of the snout, the very large buccal cavity, the development of the palatine and pterygoid dentition, and the premaxilla and maxilla bordering the gape are four characters which refer Ichthyotringa to the Enchodontoidei. The numerous plesiomorphies kept by this fish and its rare apomorphies show that it is one of the most primitive genera within the suborder.