A new ichthyodectiform fish (Actinopterygii: Teleostei) from the Arlington Member (mid-Cenomanian) of the Upper Cretaceous Woodbine Formation in Texas, USA

Based on a nearly complete skeleton from the Arlington Member (mid-Cenomanian) of the Upper Cretaceous Woodbine Formation in Texas, USA, a new fossil fish, Bardackichthys carteri gen. et sp. nov. (Actinopterygii: Ichthyodectiformes), is described. Our phylogenetic analyses show the suborder Ichthyodectoidei (containing Amakusaichthys, Chirocentrites, Chiromystus, Cladocyclus, Cooyoo, Eubiodectes, Ghrisichthys, Gillicus, Heckelichthys, Ichthyodectes, Saurocephalus, Saurodon, Xiphactinus, Unamichthys, and Vallecillichthys) to be a cohesive, Cretaceous group of ichthyodectiforms that also includes B. carteri gen. et sp. nov. Furthermore, our study reveals a monophyletic assemblage within Ichthyodectoidei consisting of Bardackichthys gen. nov., Amakusaichthys, and Heckelichthys, where the clade is assigned to a new ichthyodectiform family, Bardackichthyidae fam. nov. With large eyes, stout body, anterodorsally directed mouth, and large asymmetrical tail, B. carteri gen. et sp. nov. was most likely a powerful swimmer capable of ambushing small pelagic fishes near the water surface in brackish environments.