A fossil mola from the Mediterranean Pliocene

We report on the discovery of a 'gymnodont' beak from Lower Pliocene marine deposits of the Siena-Radicofani Basin (Tuscany, central Italy) that represents the fused dentaries of an ocean sunfish (Tetraodontiformes: Molidae). Recognised as originating from a late juvenile individual, our find represents the only post-Miocene fossil record of Molidae in the Mediterranean Basin and outside North America. The palaeoenvironmental setting of the find area, consisting of a somewhat sheltered embayment not far from the coastline and characterised by rather deep waters, is broadly consistent with the habitat preferences of extant molas. More generally, palaeoclimatic and palaeoceanographic considerations suggest that the Early Pliocene marine palaeoenvironments of Tuscany may have been particularly suitable for sunfishes.