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Background: The pycnodontiform fish Pycnodus is one of the representatives of the highly diverse actinopterygian fish fauna from the early Eocene Bolca Lagerstätte, representing one of the youngest and thus last occurrences of this extinct neopterygian clade. This genus has historically been used as a wastebasket taxon in regards to poorly known pycnodontiform fossils. Authors have argued over the specific status of the Bolca Lagerstätte Pycnodus in terms of how many species are contained within the genus with some arguing for multiple species and others suggesting lumping all Bolca specimens together into one species. Methods: Here, we use a quantitative approach performing biometric and geometric morphometric analyses on 52 specimens of Pycnodus in order to determine if the morphological variability within the sample might be related to inter- or intraspecific variation. Results: The analyses revealed that the variations of body shape, morphometric and meristic characters cannot be used to distinguish different morphotypes. On the contrary, our results show a remarkable link between shape and size, related to ontogeny. Discussion: Differences in body shape of small (juvenile) and large (adult) individuals is probably related to different microhabitats occupation on the Bolca reef with juveniles sheltering within crevices on the reef and adults being more powerful swimmers that swim above the coral. Taxonomically, we suggest that the Bolca Pycnodus should be referred to strictly as Pycnodus apodus as this was the name given to the holotype. Additionally, an overview of species assigned to Pycnodus is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pycnodontiform fish Pycnodus is one of the representatives of the highly diverse actinopterygian fish fauna from the early Eocene Bolca Lagersta¨tte, representing one of the youngest and thus last occurrences of this extinct neopterygian clade. This genus has historically been used as a wastebasket taxon in regards to poorly known pycnodontiform fossils. Authors have argued over the specific status of the Bolca Lagersta¨tte Pycnodus in terms of how many species are contained within the genus with some arguing for multiple species and others suggesting lumping all Bolca specimens together into one species. Methods: Here, we use a quantitative approach performing biometric and geometric morphometric analyses on 52 specimens of Pycnodus in order to determine if the morphological variability within the sample might be related to inter- or intraspecific variation. Results: The analyses revealed that the variations of body shape, morphometric and meristic characters cannot be used to distinguish different morphotypes. On the contrary, our results show a remarkable link between shape and size, related to ontogeny. Discussion: Differences in body shape of small (juvenile) and large (adult) individuals is probably related to different microhabitats occupation on the Bolca reef with juveniles sheltering within crevices on the reef and adults being more powerful swimmers that swim above the coral. Taxonomically, we suggest that the Bolca Pycnodus should be referred to strictly as Pycnodus apodus as this was the name given to the holotype. Additionally, an overview of species assigned to Pycnodus is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis, composition, and phylogenetic relationships of the European subfamily Pycnodontinae are revised; its record is pushed back from the Cenozoic into the Mesozoic. The Pycnodontinae is confirmed as a monophyletic group. It is diagnosed by: thin, laminar supraoccipital exposed all along the posterior border of the skull roof; cleithrum with two posterior expansions framing the notch for the pectoral fin; reduction in the ossification of the flank scales (clathrate pattern); reduction of the preopercular into a very low bone, never higher than the exposed, ornamented portion of the dermohyomandibular; and presence of a bifid cloacal scale. The subfamily includes the tribe Pycnodontini (Pycnodus + Oropycnodus), Polazzodus, Sylvienodus, and Tergestinia. The former "Coelodus" gridellii is moved to Polazzodus gridellii n. comb. The Italian genera, Pycnodus, Polazzodus, and Tergestinia, form a monophyletic group together with the French Oropycnodus. The present analysis shows that Polazzodus, Sylvienodus, and Tergestinia are pycnodontin fishes, but Haqelpycnodus, Libanopycnodus, Scalacurvichthys, and Sigmapycnodus do not belong to the Pycnodontinae. "Pseudopycnodus" and "P. nardoensis" are considered nomina dubia. This revision has revealed new aspects of the last known diversification in the evolutionary history of the Pycnodontiformes, showing that the group was still thriving in the Western Tethys during the Late Cretaceous. For the present analysis, additional arguments involving ontogenetic restrictions are provided to favour ordering multistate characters in pycnodonts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]