The first record of Late Jurassic crossognathiform fishes from Europe and their phylogenetic importance for teleostean phylogeny

The Crossognathiformes is an extinct fish order erected by Taverne (1989) to contain the crossognathids and the pachyrhizodontoids, and until recently, considered a typical Cretaceous taxon. However, recent studies of the group have shown that the Jurassic family Varasichthyidae is the sister group of pachyrhizodontoids plus crossognathids extending the range of the group to the Oxfordian in the Jurassic (Arratia 2008a). As pointed out by Arratia (2008a), the history of the group is complicated since over a century several families and numerous genera and species have been described, many now considered synonyms (for details see Agassiz 1843; Dixon 1850; Pictet 1858; Cope 1872; Loomis 1900; Woodward 1901; Forey 1977; Patterson & Rosen 1977; Teller-Marshall & Bardack 1978; Taverne 1980, 1989; Maisey 1991a, b; Patterson 1993). Currently, crossognathiforms are known from about five extinct families (e.g., Chongichthyidae, Crossognathidae, Notelopidae, Pachyrhizodontidae, and Varasichthyidae) and numerous genera. Among these, chongichthyids are known from one genus (Chongichthys) from the Oxfordian of northern Chile, whereas varasichthyids are known from five genera most recovered in localities in the Southern Hemisphere (Arratia & Schultze 1985, 1999). Among these genera, Bobbichthys, Domeykos, Protoclupea, and Varasichthys are from the Oxfordian of northern Chile, whereas the Cuban Luisichthys is Late Jurassic in age. Crossognathids are known from two genera, Crossognathus and Apsopelix. The Early Cretaceous genus Crossognathus, with two species, has been recovered in France, Germany, and Romania (Taverne 1989; Patterson 1993; Cavin & Grigorescu 2005), whereas the Late Cretaceous Apsopelix anglicus has a broader geographical distribution including North America (e.g., Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota), England, and France (Teller-Marshall & Bardack 1978). In contrast, pachyrhizodontoids are known from many species placed in at least two families, i.e., Notelopidae and Pachyrhizodontidae, with a wide geographical and temporal distribution. The oldest pachyrhizodontoid is known from the Upper Jurassic of Chile (Arratia & Schultze 1999); however, numerous pachy-