DIVERSE FISH ASSEMBLAGES FROM THE MIDDLE PERMIAN OF THE APACHE MOUNTAINS, TEXAS

New diverse fish assemblages from the middle Permian (Guadalupian) have been studied from strata equivalent in age (based on conodont biostratigraphy) to the Hegler and Pinery Members (Wordian), and to the Rader, McCombs, Lamar Limestone and Reef Trail Members (Capitanian) of the Bell Canyon Formation of the BWK, B, A, G, K, AVN and Z sections in the northwestern part of the Apache Mountains of West Texas. The assemblages include fish microremains such as teeth of symmoriiform Stethacanthulus meccaensis, jalodontids Texasodus varidentatus, Texasodus sp. and Adamantina sp., hybodontoids Lamarodus triangulus and “Lissodus” sp., anachronistid neoselachian Cooleyella amazonensis; buccopharyngeal denticles of an undetermined symmoriiform; various chondrichthyan scales; actinopterygian scales of Alilepis sp. nov., Acropholis sp. and undetermined teeth. Several taxa from the assemblages are widely distributed in the Pennsylvanian - Permian, but Lamarodus triangulus is known only from the Capitanian, Texasodus varidentatus – from the Wordian – Capitanian, and a new species of Alilepis – from the Roadian - Capitanian. Most of mentioned taxa had disappeared by the late Permian (Lopingian). The end-Guadalupian extinction was a most significant event in the history of the Paleozoic chondrichthyan fishes.