244 Evolution and Distribution of Fishes 



organism is a centriscid teleost Amphisyle heinrichi (Fig. 

 26), the remains of which are "crowded beside and over 

 each other." It is nearly related to the living A. scutata of 

 East Indian waters, that is shown in Figure 37. Close 

 on 20 other teleosts have also been recognized. This 

 enormous abundance of teleostean fishes, according to the 

 writer's view, would explain the dark color and rich bitu- 

 minous material of extensive strata that can be traced for 

 hundreds of miles along the Alps and Carpathians into 

 West Asia. Several species of the above genus still exist 

 in the tropical seas of the Old World. Alongside these 

 were Meletta crenata and several species of the scombrid 

 Lepidopus, a genus whose species are still met with in many 

 seas, also other and less abundant teleosts. 



The upper zone or "Menilite" shales proper are chiefly 

 characterized by the abundance of the clupeoid genus 

 Meletta, the crowded remains of which as well as other 

 teleosts, give a highly bituminous character to the rocks. 

 It is worth noting that Meletta {Cliipea) sardinites 

 (Figs. 38, 39) of these rocks is a near ally of the common 

 herring, sardine, anchovy and sprat, the oil content of 

 which is well known. Suess strongly suspected (op. cit. 

 p. 146) that the rich fish remains and the bituminous con- 

 stitutents of these rocks were related to each other. 



Fig. 38. Meletta {Clupea) sardinites. An abundant and typi- 

 cal marine teleost from the menilite shales of Mid Europe. 



Fig. 39. Skeletal restoration of the same fish. (After Heckel). 



