The new family Caucasinichthyidae (Pisces, Perciformes) from the Eocene of North Caucasus

Caucasichthys kumaensis gen. et sp. nov., representative of the new monotypic family of perciform fishes Caucasichthyidae, is described from the middle Eocene (Bartonian, Kuma Horizon) of the North Caucasus (Gorny Luch locality). The new family is characterized by elongated body, strong preopercular spine in adults, lack of supraneurals, large pelvic fins, long caudal peduncle, and anal fin longer at the base than soft dorsal fin. Scales vary from cycloid to spinoid on different parts of the body. Caucasichthys shares a number of apomorphic features with members of certain percoid families, most notably the Priacanthidae. However, because of its unique combination of features, the new family cannot be properly placed within any existing perciform suborder and it is placed incertae sedis among the Perciformes.