This paper is a first major study and catalogue of Eocene to Pliocene ichthyoliths from marine strata of the Tofino Basin, located onshore and offshore of the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. In addition, Cretaceous ichthyoliths occur at certain intervals. Ninety-nine species, forms, or subtypes are described and illustrated. This work expands ichthyolith studies from the large atlas of Holocene coastal British Columbia fishes and fish scales by Patterson et al. 2002 to include fossil teeth and dermal denticles from older strata. Only one previous study on fossil fishes from this region by Waldman 1971 identified six elasmobranch teeth from two families, the Hexanchidae and Orthacodontidae. These ichthyoliths were deposited in upper Eocene/lower Oligocene strata.

Helms and Riedel 1971 and Doyle et al. 1974 initially demonstrated that ichthyoliths in pelagic sediments can be used for biostratigraphic correlation. Their research emphasized that the resistant skeletal chemistry (calcium phosphate) of ichthyoliths resulted in their preservation, commonly where other microfossil groups were not preserved. Through the 1980s and 1990s the utility of ichthyoliths and stratigraphic correlation was further demonstrated in DSDP and ODP deep-sea cores and expanded to other sedimentary environments and ages including the Mesozoic and Paleozoic in addition to the original Cenozoic faunas (e.g., Table 1, Appendix 1). Joint studies with other fossil groups (e.g., nannofossils, foraminifers, radiolarians, conodonts) have resulted in further biostratigraphic correlation and paleoenvironment interpretation.

The nature of the fishes that provided microscopic disarticulated skeletal debris, teeth, scales, and dermal denticles in sediments commonly cannot be determined, nor can Linnean binomens be applied. This initial problem in identifying and naming ichthyoliths was overcome by developing and modifying a coded utilitarian ichthyolith identification system (CUIIS) (Doyle et al. 1974, 1978; Dunsworth et al. 1975; Ramsey et al. 1976; Doyle and Riedel 1979a, 1979b, 1985a, 1985b; Tway 1979, 1984; Kozarek and Orr 1980; Kaneps et al. 1981; Gottfried et al. 1984a, 1984b; Tway et al. 1985; Winfrey et al. 1987; Gupta 1991; Gebhard 1986; and Johns et al. 1997) (Table 1, Appendix 1). The system includes important ichthyolith morphologic characters in a key-like identification system, applies a code that organizes characteristics, and provides a mechanism to generate specimen descriptions. Descriptions of new ichthyoliths in this study follow the format (in part) of traditional systematics and use (in part) relevant CUIIS terms and characters important for identification. In addition to the code, a colloquial name is assigned to each subtype to assist in discussions and other situations where long name-descriptions would be inconvenient. Procedures for using the code and ichthyolith terms are discussed in Doyle et al. 1974 and Doyle and Riedel 1979a and 1985b and are applied to the modified version and parts of the coded system included in this catalogue (Table 1, Appendix 1).

This publication provides an opportunity (1) to test an electronic version of part of the coded utilitarian ichthyolith identification system that is relevant to the Tofino Basin specimens; and (2) to unify binomial and utilitarian systematics by bringing together on one or a few pages: the illustration, CUIIS code, description, remarks, and occurrences for each taxon (subtype, form, or species). The catalogue allows the reader or user to organize taxa electronically for improved comparative research.

Results from Tofino Basin ichthyolith studies are published in three parts. Ichthyolith taxonomy, illustrations, CUIIS (Appendix 1), and catalogue are included herein. Biostratigraphic results are discussed by Johns et al., in press. A synthesis of the geologic evolution of the Tofino Basin, including wider integrated biostratigraphic, stratigraphic, and foraminifer strontium isotope results, is discussed in a forthcoming manuscript, currently under consideration for publication in the Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology. The main purpose of the ichthyolith research is to expand biostratigraphic and facies studies in British Columbia to include marine Eocene to Pliocene faunas from the west coast of Vancouver Island and the offshore Tofino Basin. Ichthyolith results are correlated to foraminifer zonations by Cameron 1980, Narayan 2003 and Narayan et al., 2005, and other biostratigraphies. Micropaleontological results will contribute initial information for basin modeling and assessment of oil and gas potential in the Tofino and Queen Charlotte basins that is important for development of government policies before commencement of future exploration activities.