Valencia (fish)

Valencia is the only genus in the family Valenciidae.^[1] Valencia is a genus of ray-finned fishes. It was formerly grouped into the family Cyprinodontidae, but more recent studies support it being its own family most closely related to the Aphaniidae.^[2][3] Members of this genus are restricted to southern Europe.^[4]

Valencia Temporal range: Early Oligocene–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Valencia hispanica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cyprinodontiformes
Suborder:	Cyprinodontoidei
Family:	Valenciidae Parenti, 1981
Genus:	Valencia G. S. Myers, 1928
Type species
Hydrargyra hispanica Valenciennes, 1846

Taxonomy

There are currently three recognized species in Valencia:^[4][5]

• Valencia hispanica (Valenciennes, 1846) (Valencia toothcarp)
• Valencia letourneuxi (Sauvage, 1880) (Corfu toothcarp)
• Valencia robertae Freyhof, Kärst & Geiger, 2014^[5]

Fossil specimen of Prolebias, an extinct valenciid

The Valenciidae were formerly a much more diverse lineage in prehistoric times (Paleogene to mid-Neogene). The following fossil genera are also known:^[6]

• †Aphanolebias Reichenbacher & Gaudant, 2003
• †Francolebias Costa, 2012
• †Miovalencia Mainero, Vasilyan & Reichenbacher, 2024
• †Prolebias Sauvage, 1874
• †Wilsonilebias Mainero, Vasilyan & Reichenbacher, 2024

This group has a rich fossil record dating to the Early Oligocene. Their evolution was driven by shifts in the Mediterranean and the Paratethys Seas.^[6]