Osteology and relationships of Stanhopeichthys libanicus gen. And sp. nov. (Teleostei, Crossognathiformes, Pachyrhizodontidae) from the marine Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) of Lebanon

The osteology and the relationships of Stanhopeichthys libanicus gen. and sp. nov., a new pachyrhizodontid fish from the marine Upper Cenomanian of Hgula (Lebanon), are studied in details. The new genus belongs to the subgroup of Pachyrhizodontidae having a posterior pointed process on the pterotic. With the three last caudal vertebrae not fused, seven autogenous hupurals, three epurals and three uroneurals, Stanhopeichthys exhibits the less evolved caudal skeleton within that subgroup. Stanhopeichthys and the Italian genus Nardopiscis share a specialized character not present in other pachyrhizodontid fishes. Their two parietals are separated from each other by the posterior narrow region of the frontals and not by the supraoccipital.