A fish fauna originating from a limestone level of the Palaeogene sedimentary succession
exposed on the northwestern side of the Transylvanian Basin (Gilau sedimentary area),
belonging to the Vistea Limestone Formation, was discovered. On this occasion, we
studied a lower Priabonian fish assemblage from the Leghia-Tabara area in Cluj County.
Priabonian in Romania is a stage for which there are few data concerning fossil fish.
Herein, it documented the occurrence of two orders of elasmobranchs (Lamniformes and
Carcharhiniformes), one order of batoids (Myliobatiformes), and three other orders
of actinopterygians (Istiophoriformes, Perciformes and Tetraodontiformes). Striatolamia
tchelkarnurensis, a species formerly described solely from the Turgai Strait, is firstly
reported outside of the region of its original description. Furthermore, noteworthy
is the first record of the species Physogaleus alabamensis from Europe. This Palaeogene
fish fauna from Leghia completes the regional and continental distributions, resulting
in a more accurate understanding of palaeogeography and paleoenvironments.
