Upper Cretaceous Enchodontidae (Actinopterygii: Aulopiformes) in the La Luna formation, Eastern Cordillera, Colombia: A new report

Abstract

The fossil record of Upper Cretaceous fishes in Colombia is particularly scarce, with only eleven previously identified species. This study presents the first comprehensive report of the extinct aulopiform fish family Enchodontidae from the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. Fieldwork in the municipality of Matanza (Santander Department) yielded five fossil specimens, including jaw and skull fragments. These specimens were collected from the Upper Cretaceous La Luna Formation and were described and examined to approximate their taxonomic affinity, depositional environment, and geological age. Detailed morphological analyses associate these new specimens with the genus Enchodus. Our findings provide new data that contribute to the understanding of Enchodus diversity and distribution. The presence of key diagnostic characters in our specimens aligns with established phylogenetic frameworks, while further highlighting the potential for the presence of new species within this record.