Otolith-based fishes from the Bowden shell bed (Pliocene) of Jamaica: systematics and palaeoecology

Investigations of fossil teleostean otoliths from the Caribbean are quite restricted, although otolith studies have the potential to provide substantial information on the palaeontology of the region. The fish otoliths from the Bowden shell bed, Bowden Formation, Jamaica, are described herein in order to ascertain the ichthyological fauna and related palaeoecological conditions. Previous investigations of otoliths for the Caribbean are addressed and support the importance of this study. Approximately 1,650 otoliths representing at least 38 teleost families and 68 species were obtained from the shell bed at the type locality of the Pliocene Bowden shell bed. Comparison of the identified otoliths to the bathymetric distributions of closely related Recent taxa revealed a diversified association with shallow-water marine forms (including euryhaline species), neritic species, and middle to outer shelf forms with some upper slope and pelagic elements. The otolith assemblage also contained forms commonly associated with reef environments. The otolith assemblage of the Bowden shell bed is quite similar to the Recent Caribbean ichthyological fauna with some notable exceptions (three Pacific forms).