First Record of Fossil Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomidae, Gasterosteiformes) in Russia

Abstract

A skeleton of a ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae) from the Pshekha Subformation of the Khadum Formation (Lower Oligocene) in the Republic of Adygea was discovered. This is the first fossil record of Solenostomidae in Russia; moreover, it is the only ghost pipefish found in the Oligocene. To date, only two fossil solenostomid genera and species from the Eocene of Monte Bolca (Italy) have been recorded. The only Recent genus of this family, Solenostomus Lacepède, 1903, contains four species. The new specimen is incompletely preserved; it lacks a fragment of the body and some fins, precluding the establishment of genus and species of this form. However, the unique geographical position and age of the new fossil expand our knowledge of the evolution and geographical range of the family Solenostomidae.