Offshore marine actinopterygian assemblages from the Maastrichtian–Paleogene of the Pindos Unit in Eurytania, Greece

The fossil record of marine ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) from the time interval surrounding Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) extinction is scarce at a global scale, hampering our understanding impact, patterns and processes recovery in realm, its role evolution modern ichthyofaunas. Recent fieldwork K–Pg Pindos Unit Eurytania, continental Greece, shed new light on forgotten assemblages allowed for collection diverse, but fragmentary sample actinopterygians both late Maastrichtian Paleocene rocks. Late are dominated by Aulopiformes (†Ichthyotringidae, †Enchodontidae), while †Dercetidae (also Aulopiformes), elopomorphs additional, unidentified teleosts form minor components. fossils include clupeid, stomiiform some teleost remains. This study expands poor body this critical interval, especially smaller sized taxa, providing rare, paleogeographically constrained, qualitative glimpse open-water Tethyan ecosystems before after event. Faunal similarities between Eurytania older Cretaceous faunas reveal higher taxonomic continuum offshore actinopterygian spanning entire Tethys. At same time, scarcity findings offers tentative clues depauperate state ichthyofaunas aftermath Extinction.