THE FIRST SOLEID FLATFISH (PLEURONECTIFORMES, SOLEIDAE) FROM THE MIOCENE OF THE NORTHERN CAUCASUS

Abstract

A new soleid flatfish, Buglossidium apsheronskiense sp. nov. (Pleuronectiformes), from the Upper Maikopian (Lower Miocene) of the Northern Caucasus (Apsheronsk District) is described. This is the first find- ing of the Soleidae in the Miocene of the Caucasus. The new species is distinguished from the Recent Mediter- ranean B. luteum (Risso) by a greater number of rays in the pectoral fins, a smaller number of supracranial ptery- giophores of the dorsal fin, smaller scales, and a greater number of vertebrae. The finds of the Pleuronectiformes from the Miocene of southwestern Russia and adjacent areas of Azerbaijan and Ukraine are reviewed, and the taxonomic positions of certain taxa are revised.