bulletin de l'institut royal des sciences naturelles de belgique bulletin van het koninklijk belgisch instituut voor natuurwetenschappen sciences de la terre, 69: 197-207, 1999 aardwetenschappen, 69: 197-207, 1999 Fresh- to brackish water fish faunas from continental deposits in the Transylvanian Basin (Romania) Early Oligocene by Bettina REICHENBACHER & Vlad CODREA Abstract The coaly levels of the Dîncu-Tàma§a Beds (late Early Oligocene) from two localities near Mera in the northwestern part of the Transyl¬ vanian Dépression (Romania) yielded otoliths of 8 fish species, among which Dapalis transylvaniens is new. The composition of the fish fauna in "layer 6" of the Mera section as well as in the locality Cipche§ Creek indicate a brackish water environment. The monospecific D. transylvanicus-ïauna in "layer 7" of the Mera section could have lived in fresh- or in brackish water. The climate was subtropical to tropical on condition that the ecology of Recent Ambassidae and Eleotridae is comparable to their Oligocene relatives. D. augustus Reichenbacher, 1992 represents one of the rare elements in the studied fauna. The palaeobiogeographical distribution of this species reaches from Southern France to the Western Paratethys (Switzerland) to the Central Paratethys région (Romania). The large geographical distribu¬ tion of D. augustus and its limited range (Early Oligocene) make the species valuable for biostratigraphy in continental deposits. Key-words: Teleostei, otoliths, Early Oligocene, brackish, Romania. Résumé Les niveaux charbonneux des couches de Dîncu-Tâma§a (Rupélien terminal) dans deux gisements situés près de Mera dans la partie nordouest de la Dépression transylvanienne (Roumanie), ont livré des otolithes de 8 espèces de poissons dont une, Dapalis transylvauicus est nouvelle. La composition de la faune de poissons dans le "niveau 6" de la coupe de Mera ainsi que dans le gisement du ruisseau Cipche§ traduit un environnement saumâtre. La fauna monospécifique à D. transylvauicus du "niveau 7" de la coupe de Mera pourrait avoir vécu dans des eaux douces ou saumâtres. Le climat était subtropical à tropical pour autant que l'écologie des Ambassidae et Eleotridae récents et oligocènes soit la même. D. augustus Reichenbacher, 1992 est un des éléments paléogéographique de rares de la faune étudiée. La distribution espèce inclut le sud de la France et les régions occidentale (Suisse) et centrale (Roumanie) de la Paratethys. La vaste aire de distribution de D. augustus et son extension stratigraphique restreinte au Rupélien supérieur en font une espèce de valeur pour la biostratigraphie des dépôts continentaux. cette Mots-clefs: Teleostei, otolithes, manie. Oligocène inférieur, saumâtre, Rou¬ Introduction The Transylvanian Dépression, surrounded by the Carpathian Orogen, is one of the main structural units of the Romanian territory. lts basement is built up of variscan metamorphics. Since the Permian to the Late Cretaceous, Transylvanian Dépression was a sedimentary accumulation area. Deposits are the Permian molasse, Triassic platform carbonates, Jurassic rift sediments and Cre¬ taceous sequences. Starting with the Laramian tectogenesis around the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, the évolu¬ tion of the Transylvanian Dépression changed. The thrusted structures were overlain by an alternating sequence of continental and marine sediments of Palaeothe gene age. In the northwestern part of the Transylvanian Dépres¬ sion, three Palaeogene sedimentary areas can be distinguished: Gilâu, Mese§ and Preluca (Rusu, 1970). Each area is characterised by its spécifie lithostratigraphical units. The studied localities the are situated in the Gilàu area, village Mera, northwest of Cluj (Fig. 1). In this area, the Dîncu-Tàma§a Beds and the overlying Gruia Sandstone (Fig. 2) represent a very fossiliferous sequence. The basai part of the Dîncu-Tàma§a Beds contains a marker level with Nuculana comta (Moisescu, 1975), which is overlain by a sequence of white sandy marls and grayish coaly clays with thin lignite layers. This sequence is considered to be deposited on a coastal plain with fluvial, brackish and lacustrine influences (Hosu & Sylvester, 1996; Mészâros & Moisescu, 1991). Above these strata follows the Gruia Sandstone with intercalated shell lens dominated by Corbulidae. The Gruia Sandstone represents littoral deposits in a brackish mesohaline basin (Rusu, 1989). To the north, the Gruia Sandstone grade in the Ileanda Beds, represented by dysodiles which could be correlated with the nannoplankton zone NP 23 (upper part) and NP 24 (lower part) (MéSZâROS & Ianoliu, 1989). At Mera, the coaly levels of the Dîncu-Tàma§a Beds yielded some reptile and mammal remains. The turtle Chinemys strandt (Szalay), a taxon which is also present in the same level at Cluj (Mlinarski & Mészâros, 1963), and two incisors probably belonging to ceratomorph perissodactyls (?Indricotheriinae) were found. West of Mera, the coaly layers become thicker and the coals have been exploited at Ticu-Tàmasja or Aghires. From the coal bed named Francise, a condylarth (Kochictis centennii Kretzoi) as well as some artiodactyls (Ennear Bettina REICHENBACHER & Vlad CODREA 198 Eocene Cubleçu Beds (Late Oligocène) (undivided) Ciceu-Giurge^ti (Late Eocene, Oligocène) Brebi Maris Early Mera Beds (Early Oligocène) Moigrad Beds (Early Oligocène) Dîncu-Tâma^a Beds and Gruia Sandstone (Early Oligocène) Fig. 1 - Geological map Formation (Middle Miocene, Badenian) x Dej Tuff (Middle Miocene, Badenian) x Mire^ Formation (Middle wwwww wwwww wwwww f7 \ 7 \ 7 \ 7 \ 7 \ Miocene, Late Badenian) ; y y s y \ s x s \ /////, \ \ V. \ \ y , Landslides and location of the fossiliferous and otoliths bearing sites (F) north and east of Mera. Continental GILAU MESE$ Early Oligocène fish faunas 199 PRELUCA ns y J SINCRAIU BEDS L tmc jXTcû: xc (7) - ALMA§ULUI CUZAPLAC BEDS > GROUP O 00 r> m TTTt^1eds O n m 2 ILEANDA BEDS creaca ">t>crea( 2? m E GROUP VAR SANDSTONE - Fig. 2 BUZA§ CUBLE^U BEDS ®cuxâmasX\gs?n^ MEMBER ^ m m BIZUTA BEDS Corrélation of Kiscellian (Early Oligocène) and Egerian (Late Oligocène, Early Miocene) deposits in the Transylvanian Basin (after Mészâros & Moisescu, 1991, modified). The otolith hearing strata belong to the Dîncu-Tâma§a member. telodontidae indet. cf. Paraentelodon sp. Anthracotherium sp., large size; Radulescu & Samson, 1989; , Codrea & Suraru, 1989) were collected during exploi¬ tation works. On basis of this fauna, the Francise coal bed was correlated with the La Ferté-Allais level. Ac- remains like turtles, crocodilians and mammals macro) are common, found. Table 1 shows the distribution of fish and Cipche§ Creek. cording to Schmidt-Kjttler (1987), the La Ferté-Allais level corresponds with the Standard mammal zone MP 24 which represents the latest Early Oligocene (latest Rupelian) and earliest Late Oligocene (earliest Chattian). However, the age of the fauna from the Fran¬ All below). (IRSNB). cise-coal bed could be also somewhat older The otolith (MP 23) (see figured otoliths are deposited in the collections of the Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique Institut Order Osmeriformes Family Osmeridae Regan, 1913 Enoplophthalmus Sauvage, 1880 Genus Enoplophthalmus PI. 2, Fig. 15 Dîncu-Tâma§a Beds (Fig. 2). In the outcrop north of Mera (in this paper simply called "Mera"), the coal layer named Francise bed was designated as "layer 7". The so-called "layer 6" underlies directly the "layer 7". From the Mera section, several 100 kg sediments were sieved, washed and picked for microfossils and yielded 237 otoliths (53 otoliths from "layer 7, coal level" and 184 otoliths from "layer 6"). From the outcrop "Cipche§ Creek" east of Mera, only 85 kg sediments provided 656 otoliths. That means Cipche§ Creek yielded around 8 otoliths per 1 kg sediment. Mostly, for ex¬ ample in the Western Paratethys, the ratio is 1 to 5 otoliths per 1 kg lacustrine or brackish deposits. Hence the locality Cipche§ Creek can be considered as very rich in otoliths. Cipche§ Creek is also highly fossiliferous for other fossil groups. Vertebrate species in Mera Description of the fish otoliths hearing sites The otoliths have been collected from two outcrops near Mera (Fig. 1) near Cluj. All otoliths come from the coaly levels of the (micro and and invertebrate shells also have been Material. Locality. - - two sp. sagittae. Cipche§ Creek. Description. - The sagittae show the characteristic pentagonal shape of the genus Enoplophthalmus. The dorsal rim is nearly horizontal and rises sligthly towards the posterodorsal angle. The posterior rim is obtuse, the ventral rim rather deeply rounded with a tip in the middle. Both sagittae have a pronounced rostrum (broken anteriorly) and a faintly developed antirostrum. The straight Bettina REICHENBACHER & Vlad CODREA 200 Table 1 based on otoliths in the Dîncu-Tâma§a Beds (Early Oligocène, Kiscellian) from the Gilâu area in the Transylvanian Basin. The layer 7 in Mera section is identical with the coal layer also named Francise Bed; layer 6 is underlying layer 7. Fish species - Stratigraphy Me;ra Localities Families Species Osmeridae Enoplophthalmus Atherinidae Hemitrichas sp. EARLY OLIGOCENE layer 6 layer 7 Dapalis transylvanicus Dapalis sp. 2 1 2 Eleotridae "genus Eleotridarum" sp. 2 Gobiidae "genus aff. Lesueurigobius" cauda and ostium. 1.2 mm; - Length: 1.6 thickness; 0.45 a slightly wider 1.7 mm; height: 1.15 mm, 1/h: 1.4. mm, mm; Remark. Oligocène strata have yielded up to now two Enoplophthalmus species: E. schhimbergeri Sauvage, - 1880 from Céreste in Southern France and E. alsaticus Gaudant, 1984 from the southern Upper Rhinegraben only known by skele¬ tons in which the otoliths were not preserved. Eno¬ plophthalmus skeletons with otoliths in situ have been described from the early Miocene of the Mayence Basin (Germany) by Gaudant & Reichenbacher (1998). These Miocene species, E. rhenanus (Weiler, 1963) and E. robustus (Weiler, 1963), have sagittae with a more angular shape and a more pronounced posterior rim than the Enoplophthalmus sagittae from Cipche§ (Alsace, France). Both species are Creek. 1 Description. - The sagitta has a rounded, elongate shape and a slightly convex inner and outer face. The dorsal rim is nearly horizontal and the antero- and posterodorsal angle faintly pronounced. The rounded poster¬ ior rim meets the shallowly rounded ventral rim on a small posteroventral angle. The rostrum, broken at the tip, is prominent. Also, the antirostrum is well developed. The narrow and straight sulcus is clearly divided in a small, deepened ostium and a much longer, shallow cauda. The based on assignment of the present sagitta to Hemitrichas is the typical development of the sulcus and also small size and rounded shape of the sagitta. on the Dimensions. ness: - one - Cipchesj Creek. height: 0.8 mm; thick¬ - Order Perciformes Family Ambassidae Boulenger, 1904 Genus Dapalis Gistl, 1848 Dapalis augustus Reichenbacher, 1992 Pl. 2, Figs. 8-10 v* 1992 1996 n. sp. - Reichenbacher & Weidmann: 31, Taf. 6, Fig. Dapalis augustus chenbacher v Locality. mm; This species differs from the known Hemitri¬ (formerly Palaeoatherina) species by its elongate shape and the horizontal dorsal rim. Remark. 2, Fig. 17 sagitta. Length: 1.15 chas Hemitrichas sp. Material. - 0.25 mm; 1/h: 1.4. Family Atherinidae Rtsso, 1826 Hemitrichas Peters, 1877 (= Palaeoatherina Gaudant, 1976, see Gaudant, 1998) Pl. 14 sp. Order Atheriniformes Genus 620 1 1 Dimensions. 53 171 n. sp. Moronel sp. a narrow 15 1 Moronidae sulcus is divided in Creek sp. Dapalis angustus Reichenbacher 1992 Ambassidae Cipche^ Dapalis augustus Reichenbacher 1992. chenbacher et ai. 73, Fig. 6A- D. in Rei¬ 15. - Rei¬ Continental v Dapalis angustus Reichenbacher 1992. chenbacher & Philippe: 414, Fig. 10A-B. 1997 Material. 16 - Localities. - Rei- sagittae. Description. - Oval, thin sagittae with nearly flat inner- and outer face. The dorsal rim is rounded in the middle, the short posterior rim faintly pointed and the ventral rim moderately deep rounded. Generally, the rims are finely crenulated, but on some sagittae they are smooth. The rostrum is prominent, but not very wide compared with other Dapalis species. Generally, the antirostrum is well developed. The sulcus shows the narrow ostium which is typical for this species. The cauda is straight and becomes slightly hooked at its posterior end. Dimensions. mm; - Length: 1.60-2.65 thickness: 0.3-0.55 mm; mm; height: 1.0-1.85 1/h: 1.4-1.6; 1/th: 4.0-5.3. Stratigraphical range. - Early Oligocène (Rupelian, Kiscellian), comparable with the range of the mammal zones MP 21 to MP 23. Dapalis transylvanicus n. sp. Figs. 1-10; PI. 2, Figs. 1-7 Pl. 1, Right sagitta (Pl. 1, Fig. 3; PI. 2, Fig. 1) - (IRSNB P 7300). 619 sagittae (among them 45 juvénile otolength of 1.3 mm), 9 paratypes are figured (Pl. 1, Figs. 1, 9-10; PI. 2, Figs. 2-7) (IRSNB P 7298, 7306-7307, 7312-7317). Paratypes. - liths up to a Locus typicus. Stratum Cipche§ Creek. - typicum. - Derivatio nominis. new Other (50). Dmcu-Tâma§a Beds. - Derived from the distribution of the species in the Transylvanian Basin. Material. - Description. - The dorsal rim is moderately rounded. Generally, it terminâtes in a pronounced posterodorsal angle. The posterior rim is short, truncated or slightly pointed, the ventral rim deep rounded. Most sagittae have a pronounced rostrum and antirostrum, between them is the shallow excisura. The sulcus shows the features of the genus Dapalis. The ostium is large lower rim, the cauda is straight or hooked. and has a concave terminally slightly variability mainly concerns the shape, differing elongate (see pl. 2, figs. 6-7) to nearly round (see pl. 1, fig. 2, 8-9). Further, some sagittae have no pro¬ nounced antirostrum. Also, the posterodorsal angle can be The from absent. Holotype: Length: 2.5 mm; height: 1.75; thickness: 0.9 mm; 1/h: 1.4; 1/th: 2.8. Other sagittae: Length: 1.45-4.30 mm; height: 1.2-3.2 Dimensions. thickness: 0.4-1.2 mm; (1.6) 2.0-3.0 (3.5). 1/h: 1.2-1.4 (mostly 1.3); 1/th: - de la Holotype. Diagnosis. - The sagittae have a rounded to moderately elongate shape with a short, pointed rostrum. Also they are characterised by the prominent convexity of the outer mm; Apt Basin (Vaucluse, France), Calcaires Fayette, mammal zone MP 21 (cf. Reichenbacher & Philippe, 1997); Western Switzerland and Haute-Sa¬ voie (NE-France), Lower freshwatermolasse, niveau de Lovagny (cf. Reichenbacher & Weidmann, 1992) corresponding to mammal zone MP 23 (cf. Berger, 1992; Engesser & Mödden, 1997); Swiss Jura, Calcaire de la Verrerie and Molasse alsacienne, comparable with the time span of mammal zones MP 22 to MP 23/724 (Reichenbacher et al., 1996). Distribution. 201 face. Mera, layer 6 (1), Cipche§ Creek (15). - Early Oligocène fish faunas About 840 locality. - sagittae. Mera, layer 6 (170), layer 7/coal layer Differential diagnosis. - D. transylvanicus n. sp. generally differs from the previously known Dapalis species because of its shape of rostrum and ostium and its strongly convex outer face. Compared with D. ventricosus Nolf & Reichenbacher (1999, this vol.) and D. hungaricus (Schubert, 1912) from the Middle Eocene of Italy and Hungary, the new species is characterized by a more prominent and more pointed rostrum. D. borkensis Weiler, 1961 from the earliest Oligocène (former Latdorfian; nannoplankton zone NP 22) of Northern Germany shows a rostrum and ostium similar to D. transylvanicus but has better rounded dorsal and posterior rims. However, the elongate variants of the new species have a morphology close to D. carinatus Stinton, 1968, which is widespread in late Oligocène sediments of the Paratethys. The différ¬ ences are the somewhat higher dorsal rim and more prominent rostrum of D. carinatus as well as the more narrow ostium. Moreover, transylvanicus the rounded variants of D. be similar to D. rhomboidalis Stinton, 1968, also widespread in the late Oligocene of the Paratethys. Here the différences are more distinct: D. rhomboidalis has a deeper rounded ventral rim and its ostium has a seem to much more concave lower rim than at D. transylvanicus. Finally, it is noticeable that D. rhenanus (Koken 1891) from the early Miocene of Germany pre¬ sents a variability of the shape just like D. transylvanicus. But the Miocene species differs distinctly from the new species by its more prominent rostrum and the larger ostium. Remark. - considered The as new species D. transylvanicus can be Oligocene D. car¬ the ancestor of the late inatus and D. rhomboidalis because of its similar features Bettina RE1CHENBACHER & Vlad CODREA 202 discussed above. Comparing the Dapalis species from early Miocene, the better developed rostrum can be interpreted as an evolutionary trend. However, a large ostium with a concave lower ostial rim also seems to be a progressive feature. as Middle Eocene to Dapalis sp. 1 Pl. 1, Fig. 13 Material. Locality. - - two sagittae. Cipche§ Creek. Description. Dimensions. The sagittae differ from D. transylvaniens more elongate shape, the more prominent the cauda terminally distinctly hooked. - mm; Length: 2.5-3.2 - thickness: 0.64-0.8 mm; mm; height: 1.72-2.15 1/h: 1.45-1.5; 1/th: 3.9-4.0. Family Moronidae Fowler, 1907 Genus Morone Mitchell, 1814 Morone? sp. Pl. 1, Fig. 14 Material. Locality. - one sagitta. Mera (layer 6). - Description. Sagitta of elongate shape with - - convex inner and outer face. The undulant dorsal rim is horizon¬ tal, the posterior rim steep and fitted with a posteroventral angle, the ventral rim rather deeply rounded. A prominent a well developed antirostrum are present. The sulcus is clearly divided in a large ostium and a long, straight cauda becoming slightly hooked and tapering to a point terminally. The sulcus resembles that of Morone species from the late Oligocène and early Miocene of the Western Paratethys and the Mayence rostrum of medium size and - Rectangular sagittae with slightly convex inner and outer face. The characteristic features are a Description. pronounced posterodorsal angle, a very prominent poster¬ oventral angle sometimes prolongated to the back, and also a marked praeventral angle which can be prolongated to the front. The dorsal rim is faintly rounded and dis¬ tinctly crenulated, the ventral rim nearly horizontal and at most sagittae smooth. The sulcus has a shoe sole like shape and is opened to the front as it is known of Recent and fossil Eleotridae sagittae. mm; long conceming the ostium, especially because of the ostial rim. upper Dimensions. ness: - 1.1 mm; Length: 3.7 mm; height: 2.3 mm; thick¬ 1/h: 1.6; 1/th: 3.3. Remark. Genus incertae sedis "genus Eleotridarum" sp. Figs. 11-12; Pl. 2, Figs. 11-14 Pl. 1, Material. - 16 sagittae. mm; height: 1.15-1.9 1/h: (1.1) 1.2-1.4; 1/th: It is not possible to décidé whether these sagittae belong to "genus Eleotridarum" sectus Stinton, 1968 from the late Oligocène of the Western Paratethys or to "genus Eleotridarum" schwarzhansi (RückertÜlkümen, 1992) from the "Oligo-Miocene" (time span from nannoplankton zone NP 25 to NN 6) of Turkey or to a new species. "Genus Eleotridarum" sectus seems to have less prominent angles, but some sagittae of the Transylvanian species also have no marked angles. The holotype of "genus Eleotridarum" schwarzhansi is characterised by a praeventral angle prolongated to a tip (Rückert-Ülkümen, 1992: pl. 3, fig. 3), a feature which is not developed in this manner in our sagittae. But the dorsal rim of the Turkish species, from which only 2 sagittae are known, is crenulated and rounded just like in the case of the Transylvanian sagittae. However, the intraspecific variability of Eleotridae species seems to be high and makes it impossible to describe new species on basis of few and only moderately preserved sagittae. - Family Gobiidae Bonaparte ,1832 Lesueurigobius Whitley, 1950 Genus "genus aff. Lesueurigobius" Pl. 2, Fig. 16 v "genus aff. Lesueurigobius" sp. 235, pl. 9, flgS. 14-16. 1994 sp. - Nolf & Brzo- bohaty: Material. Locality. Family Eleotridae Bleeker, 1877 mm; 3.2-4.3. 1996; Reichenbacher & Weidmann, 1992), but differs Length: 1.3-2.75 - thickness: 0.4-0.65 Basin (cf. Weiler, 1963, 1966; Reichenbacher & Mödden, Mera, layer 6 (2), Cipche§ Creek (14). Dimensions. because of the rostrum and Locality. - - one sagitta. Cipche§ Creek. Probably this small sagitta represents the same species that Nolf & Brzobohaty (1994: 235) have described from the Eger Formation (early Egerian) in northeastern Hungary. Remark. - Dimensions. ness: - Length: 0.81 0.25 mm; 1/h: 0.95. mm; height: 0.85 mm; thick¬ Continental Palaeoecology, palaeobiogeography, biostratigraphy Early Oligocène fish faunas 203 environment, certainly of low (oligohaline) salinities be¬ true marine species are absent. Recent Ambassids and Eleotrids are cause The fish fauna from the Dîncu-Tâma§a Beds consists of 8 species (Table 1). The coal layer or "layer 7" in the Mera section provided a monospecific fauna of D. transylvanicus. The fauna of "layer 6" (beneath the coal layer) is a little bit more diverse. The highest diversity was the fauna of Cipche§ Creek with 7 species (Table 1). Dapalis transylvanicus is the dominating species in all samples, making up 95.8% of the investigated fish fauna. The Eleotrid species and Dapalis angustus both are pre¬ sent in small quantifies (1.8% each). The remaining 5 species are extremely rare. The fauna from "layer 7" at Mera consisting only of D. transylvanicus could be a fresh- or a brackish water fauna because in Oligocene times species of the extinct genus Dapalis were widespread in fresh- and brackish water biotopes (cf. Reichenbacher & Weidmann, 1992; Reichenbacher, 1996). Only in deposits of Miocene age Dapalis species were bound to brackish environments (cf. Brzobohaty, 1969; Martini, 1983; Reichenbacher, 1993). composition and low diversity of the faunas from "layer 6" at Mera and from Cipche§ Creek, combined with the mass occurrence of D. transylvanicus, can be interpreted as a signal for a brackish environment. FIowever, the second nominal Dapalis species present (D. augustus) was known so far only from freshwater depos¬ its. Fossil Eleotrid species have only poor palaeoecological significance. These fishes have a fossil record in shallow marine, brackish and freshwater deposits (cf. The Cappetta, 1980; Stinton & Kissling, 1968; Reichenbacher, 1996). The remaining rare species in Nolf & the association all belong to which is true for the very euryhaline fish families Osmeridae, Atherinidae, Moronidae and Gobiidae. But it is evident that true freshwater spe¬ cies like Umbridae or Palaeoesocidae are missing in both faunas. For this reason, we conclude that the fish faunas from the Dîncu-Tàma§a Beds from "layer 6" at Mera and from Cipche§ Creek probably lived in a brackish widespread in the If the ecology of Recent Amcomparable to their Oligocene relatives, then the climate was subtropical to tropical during the sédimentation of the Dîncu-Tâma§a Beds. From a palaeobiogeographical point of view, the dis¬ tribution of Dapalis angustus is remarkable because the species was distributed from Southern France to the Western Paratethys to the Transylvanian Basin in the Central Paratethys (for references, see above). The re¬ maining fish species are not known from other localities, except "genus aff. Lesueurigobius" sp. which occurs in the late Oligocene Eger Formation at Eger in northeastern Hungary (cf. Nolf & Brzobohaty 1994). Flowever, if D. angustus lived in inland waters from Southern France to the Transylvanian Basin, then the Enoplophthalmus spe¬ cies described in this paper may be identical with E. schlumbergeri Sauvage 1880, known only by skeletons from early Oligocene freshwater deposits in Southern tropical Indopacific area. bassidae and Eleotridae is France. large geographical distribution of D. angustus and limited to the Early Oligocene (Rupelian, Kiscellian) makes the species valuable for biostratigraphical purposes in continental deposits. So far, the main distri¬ bution of D. angustus was the time interval corresponding The its range to the mammal zone MP 23. Flence, on basis of this fish species, the Dîncu-Tâma§a Beds should be somewhat older than assumed on basis of the mammals (see intro¬ duction) and correspond to mammal zone MP 23. Acknowledgements Our thanks go to E. Martini (Frankfurt/Main), R. Brzobohaty (Brno), D. Nolf (Brussels), G. Stringer (Monroe, Louisiana) for constructive reviews of the manuscript. The SEM-photographs were made at the Laboratorium fur Elektronenmikroskopie, Karlsruhe, we thank V. Zibat and R. Preiss for their helpful coopération. This study was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Re 1113/1). References Berger, J.-P., 1992. Corrélative chart of the European Oligo¬ and Miocene: Application to the Swiss Molasse Basin. Eclogae geologicae Helvetiae, 85(3): 573-609. cene Brzobohaty, R., 1969. Die Fischfauna des südmahrischen Untermiozàns. Folia Facultatis Scientiarum Naturalium Uni- Purkynianae Brunensis, 10(1), Geologia 17: 1-49. Codrea, V. & §uraru, N., 1989. Uber einen Amynodontiden: versitatis "Cadurcodon" zimborensis in den Zimborer-Schichten von Zimbor, Kreis Salaj im Nord-Westen des Transsylvanischen Beckens. In: Petrescu, I. (ed.). 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Bulletin de l'Institut royal des Sciences nat¬ Belgique, Sciences de la Terre, this volume. Radulescu, C. & Samson, P., 1989. Oligocène mammals from Romania. In: Petrescu, I. (éd.). The Oligocène from the Trans¬ ylvanian Basin: 301-312; Cluj-Napoca. Reichenbacher, B., 1993. Mikrofaunen, Palâogeographie und Biostratigraphie der miozânen Brack- und SüBwassermolasse in der westlichen Paratethys unter besonderer Berûcksichtigung der Fisch-Otolithen. Senckenbergiana lethaea, 73 (2): 277-374. Reichenbacher, B., 1996. Biostratigraphie aufgrund von Fisch-Otolithen im Ober-Oligozân und Unter-Miozân des Molien und urelles de Palâoôkologie aufgrund von Fisch-Otolithen in den Oberen (Unter-Miozân) bei Göllheim (Mainzer Becken). Mainzer geowissenschaftliche Mitteilungen, 25: 89- Cerithienschichten 110. Reichenbacher, B. & Philippe, M., 1997. Les otolithes de Téléostéens oligocènes du bassin d'Apt (Vaucluse, France). Neues Jahrbuch Geologie Palâontologie, Abhandlungen, 203(3): 391-423. 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Die Fischfauna des Helvets von Ivancice (Eibenschitz) in Mahren. Palâontologische Zeitschrift, 40(1/2): lassebeckens der West-Schweiz und Flaute-Savoie und des Abhandlungen, 202(1): 45-61. geowissenschaftliche Abhandlun¬ Universitatea Facultatea de Str. Babes-Bolyai, Biologie si Geologie, Catedra de Geologie-Paleontologie, Kogalniceanu 1, RO-3400 Cluj Napoca, Romania. Continental Early Oligocène fish faunas 205 Explanation of plates figured specimens come from the Dîncu-Tâma§a Beds (Early Oligocène, Kiscellian) in the Gilâu area in the northwestern part of Transylvanian Basin (Romania). They are deposited in the collections of the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique (IRSNB). In the captions, L stands for left otolith and R for right otolith. Ail figures show inner views. Ail the Plate 1 Figs. 1-10 - Dapalis transylvanicus 1 = 2 = 3 = R, holotype (IRSNB P 7300); Cipche§ Creek. R (IRSNB P 7301-7303); Mera, layer 6. 4-6 = 7-8 = 9-10 Figs. 11-12 Fig. 13 Fig. 14 - - - n. sp. R, paratype (IRSNB P 7298); Cipche§ Creek. R (IRSNB P 7299); Mera, layer 6. (IRSNB P 7304-7305); Mera, layer 6. L, paratypes (IRSNB P 7306-7307); Cipche§ Creek. L = "genus Eleotridarum" sp. 11 = F (IRSNB P 7308); Cipche§ Creek. 12 = R (IRSNB P 7309); Mera, layer 6. Dapalis sp. 1. L (IRSNB P 7310); Cipche§ Creek. Moronel sp. R (IRSNB P 7311); Mera, layer 6. Plate 2 Figs. 1-7 - Figs. 8-10 - Figs. 11-14 - Fig. 15 - Fig. 16 - Fig. 17 - Dapalis transylvanicus n. sp. 1 = R, holotype (IRSNB P 7300, enlargement of pl. 1, fig. 3); Cipche§ Creek. 2-7 = paratypes (IRSNB P 7312-7317); Cipche§ Creek. 2-3, 5-7 = R, 4 = F. Dapalis augustus Reichenbacher 1992. 8, 10 = F (IRSNB P 7318, 7320); Cipche§ Creek. 9 = F (IRSNB P 7319); Mera, layer 6. "genus Eleotridarum" sp. 11, 14 = F; 12-13 = R (IRSNB P 7321-7324); Cipche§ Creek. Enoplophthalmus sp. F (IRSNB P 7325); Cipche§ Creek. "genus aff. Lesueurigobius" sp. F (IRSNB P 7326); Cipche§ Creek. Hemitrichas sp. R (IRSNB P 7317); Cipche§ Creek. 206 Bettina REICHENBACHER & Vlad CODREA Plate 1 Continental Plate 2 Early Oligocène fish faunas 207