Undescribed Elopiformes

Scientific Classification

Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fish)

Order: Elopiformes (Tarpon)

Family: Elopidae

Genus: TBC

Species: TBC

This is a large and well preserved London Clay fish skull found by Dan Hogburn in 2024 in the Division D/E of the London Clay of the Isle of Sheppey. A second, associated section of this specimen (a section of body with scales) was then found separately by Thomas Harrison. What at first glance looks fairly ‘catfish-like’ now appears, with the help of Prof Matt Friedman, to be an example of a Elopiformes fish – potentially a Promegalops species. The characteristics that helped with this identification is the presence of the gular bone on the underside of the skull (a feature only present in a few primitive fish families), the small teeth within the jaws and the shape & style of the large scales. More research is required to discover whether this represents an example of a known species (such as Promegalop signeuxae) or whether this might be a new member of this family.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

No evidence of sclerotic ring (1)
Catfish-like tiny teeth across both dentary and maxilla (2)
Large Operculum (3)
Two parallel bulging protrusions above the eye orbits (4)
Presence of a Gular bone – a bony plate between the lower jaws (5)

Primary Example: Dan Hogburn 2024 Specimen

3D Scan - Dan Hogburn Example

3D scans undertaken by Tom Sermon with permission.

References

Casier, E. (1966) Fauna ichthyologique du London Clay. British Museum Natural History London, 1966, 1-496
Monsch, K (2005) Revision of the scombroid fishes from the Cenozoic of England
Rayner, Mitchell, Clouter (2009) London Clay Fossils of Kent and Essex