Fossil fish assemblage of the Laguna Formation, Philippines: unveiling the uniqueness of Pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Asia
Abstract This study offers a comprehensive analysis and detailed description of the fossil fish assemblage from the Pleistocene Laguna Formation in Luzon Island, Philippines. The fish fossils were collected from the deeper lacustrine facies of the formation, and a total of three fish families were i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Swiss Journal of Palaeontology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-024-00347-0 |
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| author | Tomáš Přikryl Abigael Castro Allan Gil Fernando Jaan Ruy Conrad Nogot Clarence Magtoto Kevin Garas Dominique Mediodia Chien-Hsiang Lin |
| author_facet | Tomáš Přikryl Abigael Castro Allan Gil Fernando Jaan Ruy Conrad Nogot Clarence Magtoto Kevin Garas Dominique Mediodia Chien-Hsiang Lin |
| author_sort | Tomáš Přikryl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study offers a comprehensive analysis and detailed description of the fossil fish assemblage from the Pleistocene Laguna Formation in Luzon Island, Philippines. The fish fossils were collected from the deeper lacustrine facies of the formation, and a total of three fish families were identified. The identification is based on the recognizable synapomorphies in 10 moderately preserved semi-articulated individuals of ray-finned fish specimens, some of which include counterparts. The assemblage is predominantly composed of small clupeiforms of the family Dorosomatidae, accompanied by a gobioid fish (Gobiidae or Oxudercidae) and a synbranchid specimen (Synbranchidae), each represented by a single specimen. This taphocoenosis preserves free-swimming dorosomatids and demersal gobioid and synbranchid, suggesting an autochthonous assemblage with minimal postmortem sorting. Despite all recognized taxa being tolerant to changes in salinity, the environment is inferred to have been freshwater, analogous to modern Taal Lake, where a freshwater sardine thrives. This study represents the first systematic description of freshwater fish fossils in the Philippines and marks the first discovery of these taxa in the tropical West Pacific region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4a088fd23d64cb0aef1d589fc48257a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-2376 1664-2384 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Swiss Journal of Palaeontology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4a088fd23d64cb0aef1d589fc48257a2025-01-19T12:37:40ZengSpringerOpenSwiss Journal of Palaeontology1664-23761664-23842025-01-01144111610.1186/s13358-024-00347-0Fossil fish assemblage of the Laguna Formation, Philippines: unveiling the uniqueness of Pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in Southeast AsiaTomáš Přikryl0Abigael Castro1Allan Gil Fernando2Jaan Ruy Conrad Nogot3Clarence Magtoto4Kevin Garas5Dominique Mediodia6Chien-Hsiang Lin7Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of SciencesGeology and Paleontology Division, National Museum of the PhilippinesNannoworks Laboratory, National Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines DilimanGeology and Paleontology Division, National Museum of the PhilippinesSchool of Archaeology, University of the PhilippinesMines and Geoscience BureauBiodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal UniversityBiodiversity Research Center, Academia SinicaAbstract This study offers a comprehensive analysis and detailed description of the fossil fish assemblage from the Pleistocene Laguna Formation in Luzon Island, Philippines. The fish fossils were collected from the deeper lacustrine facies of the formation, and a total of three fish families were identified. The identification is based on the recognizable synapomorphies in 10 moderately preserved semi-articulated individuals of ray-finned fish specimens, some of which include counterparts. The assemblage is predominantly composed of small clupeiforms of the family Dorosomatidae, accompanied by a gobioid fish (Gobiidae or Oxudercidae) and a synbranchid specimen (Synbranchidae), each represented by a single specimen. This taphocoenosis preserves free-swimming dorosomatids and demersal gobioid and synbranchid, suggesting an autochthonous assemblage with minimal postmortem sorting. Despite all recognized taxa being tolerant to changes in salinity, the environment is inferred to have been freshwater, analogous to modern Taal Lake, where a freshwater sardine thrives. This study represents the first systematic description of freshwater fish fossils in the Philippines and marks the first discovery of these taxa in the tropical West Pacific region.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-024-00347-0PaleoichthyologyDorosomatidaeGobioideiSynbranchidaeWest Pacific |
| spellingShingle | Tomáš Přikryl Abigael Castro Allan Gil Fernando Jaan Ruy Conrad Nogot Clarence Magtoto Kevin Garas Dominique Mediodia Chien-Hsiang Lin Fossil fish assemblage of the Laguna Formation, Philippines: unveiling the uniqueness of Pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Asia Swiss Journal of Palaeontology Paleoichthyology Dorosomatidae Gobioidei Synbranchidae West Pacific |
| title | Fossil fish assemblage of the Laguna Formation, Philippines: unveiling the uniqueness of Pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Asia |
| title_full | Fossil fish assemblage of the Laguna Formation, Philippines: unveiling the uniqueness of Pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Asia |
| title_fullStr | Fossil fish assemblage of the Laguna Formation, Philippines: unveiling the uniqueness of Pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Asia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fossil fish assemblage of the Laguna Formation, Philippines: unveiling the uniqueness of Pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Asia |
| title_short | Fossil fish assemblage of the Laguna Formation, Philippines: unveiling the uniqueness of Pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Asia |
| title_sort | fossil fish assemblage of the laguna formation philippines unveiling the uniqueness of pleistocene freshwater ecosystems in southeast asia |
| topic | Paleoichthyology Dorosomatidae Gobioidei Synbranchidae West Pacific |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-024-00347-0 |
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