Babelichthys is an extinct genus of crestfish (Lophotidae) from what is thought to be the Late Eocene-aged[1]Pabdeh Formation of Western Iran. It contains a single species, Babelichthys olneyi.[2] The type specimen was initially figured by Camille Arambourg as a second, more poorly-preserved specimen of the crestfish Protolophotus, which is found in the same geologic formation. However, it was identified as its own distinct taxon in 2017.[2][3]
The genus name Babelichthys literally translates to "Babel fish" in Greek, named after the teleost-like, ear-dwelling, polyglot, extraterrestrial species from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series of novels. The name was chosen as a reference to the very peculiar, almost alien-like, appearance of the genus. The species name "olneyi" is named after John E. Olney for his work on the anatomy and ontogeny of Lampriformes.[2]
Description
The single-known specimen consists of a head and the front-most region of the dorsal fin: preserving the extremely elongated and enlarged first dorsal-fin ray. It has been inferred that Babelichthys had a highly elongated "crest" at the front of its dorsal fin that projected horizontally forwards like a horn, akin to that of the extant unicorn crestfish (Eumecichthys fiski) but even larger and more elongated.[2]
It and the unicorn crestfish are each other's closest known relatives.[2] However, some studies find Lophotidae to be paraphyletic, and place Babelichthys as an indeterminate taeniosome.[4]
↑Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (France); naturelle (France), Muséum national d'histoire (1966). Notes et mémoires sur le Moyen-Orient. Vol.t.8 (1966). Paris: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle.
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