722


Journal of Paleontology 92(4):713–733


(Fig. 1); UOMNH F-36412, a carbonized imprint preserving a few highly carbonized vertebrae representing a young, but metamorphosed individual (Fig. 2.1, 2.2); UOMNH F-30648, a partial skeleton preserving the dorsal side of the skull and anterior vertebral column representing a young adult (Fig. 2.3); UOMNH F-55196, partial skeleton preserving the ventral side of the salamander, but missing the skull, atlas, and left forelimb (Fig. 3). Mehama Formation, Linn County, Oregon, UO 4356 Thomas Creek Drive: UOMNH F-59812 A-B, a nearly complete but crushed skeleton in part and counterpart (Fig. 4).


Remarks.—Van Frank (1955) originally described the type specimen of Taricha oligocenica (Fig. 1) as a new genus and species, Palaeotaricha oligocenica, citing several differences he observed from extant Taricha, including: (1) a maxilla/quadrate suture or fusion; (2) a slightly different arrangement of tarsal bones; (3) extensive, expanded and sculptured spine tables on the neural arches, (4) long epipleural rib processes, (5) an unu- sually large, knob-like prepubic process in the pelvis; and (6) one additional trunk vertebra (14 as opposed to 13). The latter of these traits is highly variable within species (Holman, 2006). It should be noted that Van Frank (1955) was unclear on whether he believed the maxilla and quadrate to be truly fused, or simply sutured, because the terms may have been used interchangeably. This practice is no longer recommended, since fusion should indicate a lack of a detectable suture (Irmis, 2007). Later, additional preparation of the type led to elimination of some differences (maxilla-quadrate suture/fusion, prepubic process morphology), therefore Tihen (1974) reclassified the type, relegating Palaeotaricha to the subgeneric level within Taricha, and assigned Taricha miocenica to the Palaeotaricha subgenus. Naylor (1979), in his description of the Taricha lindoei


type, saw no reason to eliminate the subgeneric separation of Palaeotaricha and modern Taricha, even noting differences (atlas shape, height of the trunk vertebrae) that Tihen (1974) and later, Estes (1981) apparently did not take into account. Estes (1981) did not recognize the Palaeotaricha subgenus because he was unconvinced that there was enough evidence to differentiate any of the fossils from extant taxa at a subgeneric level. Curiously, the long epipleural rib processes are not something seen in extant Taricha, as recognized by Van Frank (1955), not discussed in Tihen (1974), and reestablished by Naylor (1979). These features were not discussed when the status of the Palaeotaricha was first changed by Tihen (1974), then later, when the subgenus was not recognized at all (Estes, 1981; Dubois and Raffaëlli, 2009). Holman (2006) provided only a summary of the previous work done on the type specimen (UOMNH F-5405), and used the diagnosis and classification of Estes (1981). Unlike Estes (1981), Holman (2006) noted the presence of elongate epipleural rib processes. The most recent taxonomy of family Salamandridae in Dubois and Raffaëlli (2009) listed all fossil Taricha species as “incertae sedis” at the subgeneric level, likely intended to indicate the uncertainty of their position in the absence of a study subsequent to the original descriptions of these species (in which T. oligocenica and T. lindoei are described from one specimen each).


Figure 6. UOMNH F-59813, the only specimen of T. lindoei from Gray Butte. This specimen is not only the smallest articulated individual of Taricha in the fossil record, but also preserves a soft-tissue outline for much of the specimen’s body.


Taricha lindoei Naylor, 1979 Figures 6, 7


Holotype.—UALVP 13870, partial skeleton impression, Oli- gocene, Big Basin Member, John Day Formation, Wheeler County, Oregon.


Diagnosis.—Taricha lindoei lacks sculptured spine tables on the neural spines of the vertebrae, but has a very slight expan- sion of the posterior neural crest. The skull of T. lindoei is elongate and narrows anteriorly; however, the posterior region of the skull remains wide and possesses minor sculpturing. Taricha lindoei also possesses a broad scapular region of the scapulocoracoid, prominent epipleural pectoral rib processes, and concave inter-prezygapophyseal margins.


Occurrence.—Early Oligocene, Oregon.


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