FOSSIL AND RECENT 35 



Formation and locality. Lower Cenomanian of Jebel Tselfat, Morocco. 



Remarks. This species has been described in some detail by Arambourg (1954). 

 The chief differences from the other species concern the position and size of the median 

 fins, the shape of the maxilla and the small size of the premaxilla. D. lacostei shares 

 with D. gardneri a similarly shaped hyomandibular, an unornamented cranial roof 

 and a similarly disposed preopercular sensory canal. 



Remarks on the genus Davichthys 



The close resemblance of Davichthys to other elopids has necessitated nothing 

 more than the above comparative notes. Removal of the type-species from associa- 

 tion with Lebonichthys gracilis is justified by the lack of any of the albulid specializa- 

 tions characterizing Lebonichthys (p. 171). 



A new genus is made for these three species because they are intermediate in 

 structure between the Upper Jurassic Anaethalion and the Eocene-Recent Elops. 

 Davichthys appears to be the sole Cretaceous representative of the family Elopidae. 



Genus ANAETHALION White, 1938 

 (Text-figs. 16-19) 



For generic synonymy see Gaudant (1968). For diagnosis of the genus see 

 Nybelin (1967b). 



The genus Anaethalion as now understood is constituted by several Upper Jurassic 

 (Kimmeridgian) species from Germany, France and Spain. The genus was first 

 described by Munster (1842a) who used the preoccupied name Aethalion for his type- 

 species, A. angustus. New species were added and described by Munster (op. cit. 

 and 1842b), Winkler (1862) and Wagner (1863). Sauvage (1903) recognized two 

 species (A. vidali and A. gigas) from Lerida, Spain. 



Nybelin (1967b), in a taxonomic revision of the genus as represented in the 

 Kimmeridgian of Germany, recognized five (possibly six) species, viz. ; A . angustus 

 (Munster), A. angustissimus (Munster), A. knorri (Blainville) , A. mayri Nybelin, 

 A. sp. and A. (?) cf. subovatus (Munster). Lack of cranial material cast doubt on 

 the inclusion of the last-mentioned species in the genus. Gaudant (1968) revised the 

 species from France and came to the conclusion that in addition to A. knorri and 

 A . angustus there were also two different species ; A . affmis Gaudant and A . cirinensis 

 Gaudant. Both Nybelin (1967b) and Gaudant (1968) have described the anatomy 

 of Anaethalion. 



The purpose of the present work is to evaluate the relationships of the genus, 

 primarily upon the basis of the anatomy of Anaethalion vidali. No attempt is made 

 to analyse the validity of the species recognized hitherto as the author has only had 

 the chance to examine a limited amount of material. The material examined is as 

 follows : Anaethalion angustus, B.M.N.H. 37926, 37912, 37927 ; A. knorri, B.M.N.H. 

 36030, 379°3. 37 8 39. 37°42. P.1095 ; A. angustissimus, B.M.N.H. P-3575. 379 01 

 (neotype) ; A. (?) cf. subovatus, B.M.N.H. P.3656, P.3723 ; A. sp., B.M.N.H. P.3728, 



