Fish Otoliths from the Middle MIocene of Kienberg at Mikulov, Czech Republic, Vienna Basin: their paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic significance

Sixty-three otolith-based species were recorded in the Kienberg section, ten of which are new for Central Paratethys (first fossil record of extant species Scorpaena notata and Spondyliosoma cantharus). The section provides the richest and most diverse otolith association of that age for the Vienna Basin. Actualistic analyses indicates open marine, open infralitoral sedimentary conditions varying between 30 and 80 m depth with sandy-muddy/sandy bottom and possibly seagrass beds, in subtropical climate with gradual upwards cooling. A higher diversity of gadoids in contrast with the lowest Badenian of the Central Paratethys documented the decline of the so called climatic optimum in the Miocene of Middle Europe. The dominance of Atlantic and Atlantic-Mediterranean taxa indicates an open communication with theses domains and confirm the idea of the still functioning transdinaride corridor.