[PaleoIchthyology • 2026] The Oldest Shark Face—Anatomy of the Devonian elasmobranch Phoebodus

Phoebodus saidselachus Frey, Coates, Ginter, Hairapetian, Rücklin, Jerjen & Klug, 2019

in Klug, Greif, Pohle, Ginter, Coates, Haouz, Lagnaoui, Pople et Frey, 2026. 

www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app012902025.html 

Phoebodus was recognized as the earliest elasmobranch known from articulated remains, a group which constitutes most modern cartilaginous fish comprising sharks, skates and rays. Its elongate body, the presence of two dorsal fins with fin spines, and the elongate head had already been described. Based on spectacularly well-preserved fossils, we add new anatomical information on its exact body proportions, the paired and caudal fins, the dermal denticles, the skull morphology, the endocast, and the gill skeleton. These new skeletons from the Famennian (Upper Devonian) of Morocco (c. 367 Ma) permit a much-improved reconstruction of the anatomy of Phoebodus. The new materials comprise the oldest elasmobranch specimens preserving the complete head in three dimensions. Additionally, the new materials yield information about growth and diet and thus position in the trophic network. Despite the newly coded characters, the phylogenetic position of the genus Phoebodus with the oldest teeth dating to the early Givetian remains that of the oldest stem-elasmobranch in the Bayesian analyses.

Key words: Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii, Famennian, ontogeny, exceptional preservation, Fossillagerstätten

Phoebodontiform elasmobranch Phoebodus saidselachus Frey et al., 2019a, middle Famennian, Upper Devonian, southern Maïder, Anti-Atlas, Morocco. A. PIMUZ A/I 5751, prep. T. Imhof, largest individual, nearly complete. B. PIMUZ A/I 5752, prep. T. Imhof, second largest individual, only caudal region missing; for details of the skull see Fig. 2. C. PIMUZ A/I 5753, prep. M. Greif, anterior half, excellent integument, fins and brachial region. D. PIMUZ A/I 5754, prep. R. Roth, two superimposed chondrichthyans; the skull in the middle is Maghriboselache mohamezanei with further remains; the straight, complete skeleton belongs to Phoebodus; the latter preserves the caudal fin. E. PIMUZ A/I 4712, holotype, smallest skeleton, nearly complete, modified after Frey et al. (2019a).

Skeletal reconstruction of the phoebodontiform elasmobranch Phoebodus saidselachus Frey et al., 2019a, middle Famennian, Upper Devonian, southern Maïder, Anti-Atlas, Morocco. A. PIMUZ A/I 5754, caudalis. B, C. PIMUZ A/I 4712, posterior and anterior dorsal fins. D. PIMUZ A/I 5752, anterior dorsal fin. E. PIMUZ A/I 5751, caudalis. F, G. PIMUZ A/I 5753, pectoral fin and branchial basket. H. PIMUZ A/I 5752, head. The photos are not to scale. The scale refers only to the drawing.

Systematic palaeontology 

Chondrichthyes Huxley, 1880 

Elasmobranchii Bonaparte, 1838 

Phoebodontiformes Ginter et al., 2010 

Genus Phoebodus St. John & Worthen, 1875

Reconstructions of an adult female and juvenile male of the phoebodontiform elasmobranch Phoebodus saidselachus Frey et al., 2019a, middle Famennian, Upper Devonian, southern Maïder, Anti-Atlas, Morocco. We incorporated the new anatomical details particularly in the proportions and the fin shapes. The juvenile is reconstructed after the holotype.

  

Christian Klug, Merle Greif, Alexander Pohle, Michał Ginter, Michael I. Coates, Wahiba Bel Haouz, Abdelouahed Lagnaoui, Jonathan Pople, and Linda Frey. 2026. The Oldest Shark Face—Anatomy of the Devonian elasmobranch Phoebodus. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 71 (2), 2026: 399-430 DOI:10.4202/app.01290.2025  https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app012902025.html

Linda Frey, Michael Coates, Michał Ginter, Vachik Hairapetian, Martin Rücklin, Iwan Jerjen, Christian Klug. 2019. The early elasmobranch Phoebodus: phylogenetic relationships, ecomorphology and a new time-scale for shark evolution. Proc Biol Sci. 286 (1912): 20191336. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.1336

[PaleoIchthyology • 2025] Apolithabatis seioma • Insights into Stem Batomorphii: A New holomorphic Ray (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii) from the upper Jurassic of Germany

 

Apolithabatis seioma   

Türtscher, Jambura, Spindler & Kriwet, 2025 

     

DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310174 

 facebook.com: Frederik Spindler

Abstract

The Late Jurassic fossil deposits of southern Germany, collectively known as the ’Solnhofen Archipelago’, are one of the world’s most important sources of Mesozoic vertebrates. Complete skeletons of cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes), whose skeletal remains are rare in the fossil record and therefore all the more valuable, are represented, among others, by exceptionally well-preserved rays (superorder Batomorphii). Despite their potential for research in several areas, including taxonomy, morphology, ecology, and phylogeny, the number of studies on these chondrichthyans is still very limited. Here, we identify a previously unknown ray, †Apolithabatis seioma gen. et sp. nov., which represents the first record of a ray species from the upper Kimmeridgian of Painten, Germany, and thus the oldest Late Jurassic ray taxon from Germany based on skeletal remains. This new batomorph is characterised by a unique body shape and a combination of skeletal features that distinguish it readily from all other known Late Jurassic rays. Two different morphometric approaches confirm differences in body shape and proportions to all known Late Jurassic conspecifics. We thus extend the recent taxonomic revision of these rays and include all described holomorphic specimens in a phylogenetic framework using strict cladistic principles. The phylogenetic analysis reveals all Late Jurassic batomorphs to represent a monophyletic group, for which we introduce the new order Apolithabatiformes, which is sister to all other batomorphs representing a stem group. While the phylogenetic relationships within Apolithabatiformes ord. nov. remain largely unresolved, †Apolithabatis gen. nov. is placed as the sister to †Aellopobatis. This highlights that, despite considerable progress in our understanding of the diversity and phylogeny of early rays, difficulties remain in establishing robust relationships within batomorphs. We therefore emphasise the importance of comprehensive studies of completely preserved fossil cartilaginous fishes to obtain a better understanding of chondrichthyan evolution and their systematics in deep time. 

Systematic palaeontology

Class CHONDRICHTHYES Huxley, 1880 

Subclass ELASMOBRANCHII Bonaparte, 1838  

Cohort EUSELACHII Hay, 1902 

Subcohort NEOSELACHII Compagno, 1977 

Superorder BATOMORPHII Cappetta, 1980 

†APOLITHABATIFORMES ord. nov.

We consequently propose a new order, †Apolithabatiformes ord. nov., which includes the single family, †Spathobatidae with the genera †Aellopobatis, †Apolithabatis gen. nov., †Asterodermus, †Belemnobatis, †Kimmerobatis, and †Spathobatis. This order represents the most plesiomorphic clade within Batomorphii being placed on the stem of the total group Batomorphii. It is possible that the hitherto undescribed Late Jurassic batomorph from Argentina, previously considered merely as Batomorphii indet. by Cione (1999) [14], also belongs to this order, which, however, can only be clarified by a detailed examination of the specimen.

Type species. †Apolithabatis seioma gen. et sp. nov.

Included taxa: †Aellopobatis bavarica, †Apolithabatis seioma gen. et sp. nov., †Asterodermus platypterus, †Belemnobatis spp., †Kimmerobatis etchesi, †Spathobatis spp.

Etymology: The name ’Apolithabatiformes’ is composed of two Greek words, i.e., ’aπολίθωμα’ (apolíthoma) meaning ’fossil’ and ’βατίς’ (batís) meaning ’ray’ or ’skate’.

Diagnostic characters. Elongated mesopterygium contiguous with propterygium and similar in shape; lateral articulation of antorbital cartilages (if present) to nasal capsules; two true fin spines anterior to dorsal fins (absent in some taxa);

Family †SPATHOBATIDAE Dames, 1888 

†APOLITHABATIS gen. nov.

Type species. †Apolithabatis seioma gen. et sp. nov.

 Etymology: Identical to that of the order †Apolithabatiformes (see above): the genus name ’Apolithabatis’ is composed of two Greek words, i.e., ’Απολίθωμα’ (apolíthoma) meaning ’fossil’, and ’βατίς’ (batís) meaning ’ray’ or ’skate’.

Stratigraphic and geographic distribution: Only known from the upper Kimmeridgian (Upper Jurassic) of the ’Solnhofen Archipelago’ (Painten), Bavaria, Germany.

Diagnosis: A guitarfish-like batomorph unique in having the following combination of characters: heart-shaped disc that is wider than long; pointed snout; antorbital cartilages present but reaching less than halfway between the nasal capsules and the propterygium; vertebral centra extending less than half of the synarcual length; large mesopterygium tangent to the propterygium; 40 pectoral radials (9 propterygial, 11 mesopterygial, 20 metapterygial); no pectoral radials articulate directly with the scapulocoracoid between the meso- and metapterygium; pectoral radials segmented in up to five segments; at least 16 pairs of ribs; 19 basipterygial radials (including one compound radial); puboischiadic bar curved anteriorly; no postpelvic processes present; broad and triangular lateral prepelvic processes; well-developed and plate-like haemal and supraneural spines; conspicuous bulge-like structure formed by the supraneural spines in front of each dorsal fin; no fin spines present.

†APOLITHABATIS SEIOMA gen. et sp. nov.

Environmental reconstruction showing †Apolithabatis seioma gen. et sp. nov. in association with a juvenile pleurosaurid.

     Julia Türtscher, Patrick L. Jambura, Frederik Spindler and Jürgen Kriwet. 2025. Insights into Stem Batomorphii: A New holomorphic Ray (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from the upper Jurassic of Germany. PLoS ONE. 20(1): e0310174. DOI: doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310174

  facebook.com/FrederikSpindler7/posts/9011371638932562

 

[PaleoIchthyology • 2025] Pseudocorax heteroserratus • Pseudocorax (Chondrichthyes: Lamniformes: Pseudocoracidae) in the Upper Maastrichtian Phosphates of Khouribga Province, Morocco

 

Pseudocorax heteroserratus

Egli, Goode, Rempert & Rego, 2025

 DOI: doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2025.10183  

 Researchgate.net/publication/397832548

Abstract

A new species of Pseudocorax (Lamniformes, Pseudocoracidae), Pseudocorax heteroserratus n. sp., is described from the upper Maastrichtian phosphates of Morocco. This novel taxon is recognized by a large sample of isolated teeth collected from the upper Couche III layer at the Sidi Chennane quarry in the Oulad Abdoun Basin, Khouribga Province, Morocco. P. heteroserratus is differentiated from other Pseudocorax species by bearing a mesiodistally elongated tooth base, broad crown, and highly variable serrations. The variability in number and extent of serrations along the carinae ranges from completely absent to fully serrated and finely to coarsely serrated, raising speculation on broader Pseudocorax phylogenetics and as to whether the genesis of serrations within Pseudocorax occurred in a singular progressive event or rather from two distinct events. The morphological variability within the new species highlights the importance of large sample sizes in selachian odontological studies using isolated teeth.

Systematic paleontology

Class Chondrichthyes Huxley, Reference Huxley, 1880

Subclass Elasmobranchii Bonaparte, Reference Bonaparte, 1838

Cohort Euselachii Hay, Reference Hay, 1902

Subcohort Neoselachii Compagno, Reference Compagno, 1977

Order Lamniformes Berg, Reference Berg, 1958

Family Pseudocoracidae Cappetta, Reference Cappetta, 2012

Genus Pseudocorax Priem, Reference Priem, 1897

Type species: Pseudocorax affinis (Münster in Agassiz, Reference Agassiz1843), from the upper Maastrichtian, Netherlands.

 Upper anterior Pseudocorax heteroserratus n. sp. 
 (1–5) MMNS VP-12820 (holotype), upper left anterior tooth in (1) lingual, (2) basal, (3) apical, (4) profile, and (5) labial views.
(6–10) MMNS VP-12827.01, upper left anterior tooth in (6) lingual, (7) basal, (8) apical, (9) profile, and (10) labial views. Scale bars = 5 mm.

Pseudocorax heteroserratus new species 

Diagnosis: Crown and tooth base mesiodistally expanded, especially along upper and lower jaw anterior teeth. Mesial shoulder generally more prominent along basal crown, extending further apically. Variable serrations, from absent to full and coarse to fine, regardless of jaw position or potential ontogenetic stage. Deep basal margin on tooth base with variable tooth base lobe morphology.

Occurrence: Upper Couche III layer of the Oulad Abdoun Basin, Sidi Chennane quarry, near Oued Zem, Khouribga Province, Morocco.

 

Etymology: “Hetero-”, Latin for “different”, and “serratus” for “serrations,” highlighting the variability in the presence and size of serrations along the crown.

 Upper lateroposterior Pseudocorax heteroserratus n. sp. teeth.
(1–5) MMNS VP-12823 (paratype), upper left lateroposterior tooth in (1) lingual, (2) basal, (3) apical, (4) profile, and (5) labial views. (6–10) MMNS VP-12827.05, (?) upper right lateroposterior tooth in (6) lingual, (7) basal, (8) apical, (9) profile, and (10) labial views.
(11–15) MMNS VP- 12827,06, (?) upper left lateroposterior tooth in (11) lingual, (12) basal, (13) apical, (14) profile, and (15) labial views. (16–20) MMNS VP-12827.07, upper left lateroposterior tooth in (16) lingual, (17) basal, (18) apical, (19) profile, and (20) labial views.
(21–25) MMNS VP-12827.08, upper right lateroposterior tooth in (21) lingual, (22) basal, (23) apical, (24) profile, and (25) labial views. (26–30) MMNS VP-12827.09, upper left lateroposterior tooth in (26) lingual, (27) basal, (28) apical, (29) profile, and (30) labial. Scale bars = 5 mm.

Hunter Chase Egli, Benjamin Goode, Trevor Rempert and Christopher Rego. 2025. Pseudocorax (Chondrichthyes, Lamniformes, Pseudocoracidae) in the Upper Maastrichtian phosphates of Khouribga Province, Morocco. Journal of Paleontology. Journal of Paleontology. DOI: doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2025.10183  [21 November 2025]

 Researchgate.net/publication/397832548_Pseudocorax_in_the_Upper_Maastrichtian_phosphates_of_Khouribga_Province_Morocco 

 

Non-technical Summary: A new species of extinct shark, Pseudocorax heteroserratus n. sp., has been identified through isolated teeth from fossil-rich Cretaceous rock in Morocco. Unlike previously known Pseudocorax species, this new species is distinguishable through its broad crown, elongated tooth base, and unusually variable serrations. These serrations range from unserrated to coarsely serrated and provide new insights into Pseudocorax evolutionary history. It raises the question of whether serrations in this lineage evolved gradually in a continuous process or from multiple independent origins. The findings of this study emphasize how large sample sizes of shark teeth are critical in palaeoichthyology, especially when species are known only from their teeth.

[PaleoIchthyology • 2025] Pochitaserra patriciacanalae & Dasyatis manuelcamposi • Diving into the Past: A New Assemblage of Neogene elasmobranch Microfossils from the eastern Pacific of South America

  

Pochitaserra patriciacanalae 
 Dasyatis manuelcamposi

 Villafaña, Campos-Medina, Chávez-Hoffmeister, S. Araya, B. Araya, Ledezma, Hernandez, Ramos-Rojas, Bolomey, Tejo, Vera, Campoy, Arotaipe, Bugueño, Antiquera & Rivadeneira, 2025

 DOI: doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70043 

  x.com/VillafanaJA

Abstract

The fossil record of chondrichthyans from the Pacific coast of South America is rich and diverse, with the Bahía Inglesa Formation distinguished as one of the most important in the region. Despite the extensive fossil record of cartilaginous fish in the Bahía Inglesa Formation, studies focused on microremains of this group of fish are non-existent. This study describes for the first time a new locality of fossil microremains from the Upper Miocene of northern Chile. Over 300 kg of sediment was extracted at the study locality to examine and identify chondrichthyan fossils smaller than 1 cm. Here, 19 chondrichthyan taxa from the Upper Miocene of Bahía Inglesa are reported: five were identified at the species level, seven at the genus level, three at the family level, and four at the superorder level. Notably, this includes the first record of Sympterygia for the Americas, the first record of Dipturus for the Neogene, and the first mention of Rhinobatos for the Neogene of South America. At the species level, the first description of the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus for South America and the leopard shark Triakis semifasciata in any locality worldwide is provided. Additionally, a new species of ray from the genus Dasyatis and a new genus and species of sawshark from the family Pristiophoridae are proposed. In this research we present the largest number of chondrichthyan microremains collected and described from fossiliferous localities in Chile.

Keywords: shark, ray, teeth, Neogene, Bahía Inglesa, Chile

 Dasyatis manuelcamposi sp. nov. 

Pochitaserra gen. nov. 

 Pochitaserra patriciacanalae gen. et sp. nov. 

 

 

Jaime A. Villafaña, Jorge Campos-Medina, Martín F. Chávez-Hoffmeister, Selene Araya, Benjamin Araya, Leandro Ledezma, Yusse Hernandez, Héctor A. Ramos-Rojas, Jorge Bolomey, Matias Tejo, Francisca Vera, Ana N. Campoy, Rosmery Arotaipe, Yara Bugueño, Bianca Antiquera, Marcelo M. Rivadeneira. 2025. Diving into the Past: A New Assemblage of Neogene elasmobranch Microfossils from the eastern Pacific of South America. Papers in Palaeontology. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/spp2.70043 [07 November 2025]

  x.com/VillafanaJA/status/1986881449820029029

[PaleoIchthyology • 2026] A large lamniform shark from the Aptian of Villa de Leiva (Boyacá, Colombia), based on the first Lower Cretaceous shark specimen preserving both teeth and vertebrae

 

 Protolamna ricaurtei  

in Benavides-Cabra, Páramo-Fonseca, Narváez-Rincón et Pomar, 2026. 

 DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106211 

artwork by Renzo Garavito x.com/R_o_XIII

Highlights: 

• Protolamna ricaurtei was a gigantic lamniform shark that lived during the Early Cretaceous.

• Not all macrophagous lamniform sharks with large bodies have large teeth.

• Protolamna ricaurtei was a relatively slow but active swimmer who fed on small preys.

Abstract

We describe a new specimen of a lamniform shark from the upper Aptian of the Arcillolitas abigarradas Member of the Paja Formation of Villa de Leiva (Colombia). It represents the first lamniform shark specimen from the Lower Cretaceous with both teeth and vertebrae preserved. The specimen consists of several disarticulated but well-preserved teeth and well-preserved partially articulated vertebral centra, denticles and soft tissues. We refer the specimen to Protolamna ricaurtei, a species recently erected from a specimen found in the same formation. It is a lamniform shark characterized by proportionally small tearing-type teeth with small triangular main cusp, two pairs of small triangular lateral cusplets, and massive bilobated roots. The specimen represents a mature individual to be 6.65 m in total length, making it the oldest record of a gigantic lamniform. This specimen is the first evidence that not all macrophagous lamniforms follow the linear function relating crown height to total body length. Our taphonomic analysis indicates that the specimen must have rapidly reached an anoxic bottom, with low benthic activity, gentle currents, and with microbial mats that facilitated the rapid phosphatization of the soft tissues. Based on the preserved anatomy, we propose that Protolamna ricaurtei was a relatively slow but active swimmer feeding in tropical near-shore areas over small preys such as bony fishes, small sharks, squids, and crustaceans.

the taphonomic history of specimen CFSTA090318, from its sinking and burial to its fossilization, along with the remains of an associated turtle.

artwork by Renzo Garavito x.com/R_o_XIII

Protolamna ricaurtei 

 

Cristian D. Benavides-Cabra, María E. Páramo-Fonseca, José A. Narváez-Rincón and Daniel E. Pomar. 2026. A large lamniform shark from the Aptian of Villa de Leiva (Boyacá, Colombia), based on the first Lower Cretaceous shark specimen preserving both teeth and vertebrae. Cretaceous Research. 178, 106211. DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106211 

 x.com/R_o_XIII/status/1970514496184865019

[PaleoIchthyology • 2025] Macadens olsoni • A New euchondrocephalan chondrichthyan (Chondrichthyes: Euchondrocephali) from the middle Mississippian (Viséan) Joppa Member of the Ste. Genevieve Formation at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA and A Reassessment of the lower Mississippian (Tournaisian-Viséan) "Helodus" coxanus Newberry, 1897

 

 Macadens olsoni

Hodnett, Toomey, Sues, Santucci, Tolleson & Tweet, 2025

  Researchgate.net/publication/393776561

Art by Benji Paysnoe

A new euchondrocephalan chondrichthyan, Macadens olsoni gen. et sp. nov., is identified from the Middle Mississippian (Viséan) Joppa Member, Ste. Geneveive Formation from Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. Macadens olsoni shares various morphological traits with the enigmatic taxon “Helodus” coxanus Newberry 1897, from the Lower-Middle Mississippian (Tournaisian) Keokuk Limestone of Iowa. These morphological traits of a lower symphyseal on a narrow mesiodistally elongated base with rounded and blunt cusps are not seen in Helodus and we create a new genus name and combination, Rotuladens gen. nov. coxanus Newberry 1897. Macadens and Rotuladens are proposed as members of unnamed clade with a sister-group relationship with Eugeneodontiformes.

  Proposed reconstruction of the new to science species Macadens olsoni, discovered through fossil research at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Art by Benji Paysnoe

Macadens olsoni gen. et sp. nov.

 

 

John-Paul Michael Hodnett, Rickard Toomey, Hans-Dieter Sues, Vincent L. Santucci, Kelli Tolleson and Justin Tweet. 2025. A New euchondrocephalan chondrichthyan (Chondrichthyes, Euchondrocephali) from the middle Mississippian (Viséan) Joppa Member of the Ste. Genevieve Formation at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA and A Reassessment of the lower Mississippian (Tournaisian-Viséan) "Helodus" coxanus Newberry, 1897. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 100: 87–93. 

 Researchgate.net/publication/393776561_A_NEW_EUCHONDROCEPHALAN_CHONDRICHTHYAN_from_The_middle_MISSISSIPPIAN_of_The_Ste_GENEVIEVE_FORMATION_at_MAMMOTH_CAVE_NP_KENTUCKY_USA

[PaleoIchthyology • 2025] Pararhincodon torquis • Three-dimensional Fossils of a Cretaceous Collared Carpet Shark (Orectolobiformes: Parascylliidae) shed light on Skeletal Evolution in galeomorphs

 

 Pararhincodon torquis

Dearden, Johanson, O’Neill, Miles, Bernard, Clark, Underwood & Rücklin, 2025

 DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.242011 

Artwork by Julio Lacerda

 

Abstract

A rich fossil record of teeth shows that many living shark families’ origins lie deep in the Mesozoic. Skeletal fossils of the sharks to whom these teeth belonged are far rarer and when they are preserved are often flattened, hindering understanding of the evolutionary radiation of living shark groups. Here we use computed tomography to describe two articulated Upper Cretaceous shark skeletons from the Chalk of the UK preserving three-dimensional neurocrania, visceral cartilages, pectoral skeletons and vertebrae. These fossils display skeletal anatomies characteristic of the Parascylliidae, a family of Orectolobiformes now endemic to Australia and the Indo Pacific. However, they differ in having a more heavily mineralized braincase and a tri-basal pectoral fin endoskeleton, while their teeth can be attributed to a new species of the problematic taxon Pararhincodon. Phylogenetic analysis of these new fossils confirms that Pararhincodon is a stem-group parascylliid, providing insight into the evolution of parascylliids’ distinctive anatomy during the late Mesozoic–Cenozoic shift in orectolobiform biodiversity from the Northern Atlantic to the Indo Pacific. Meanwhile both Pararhincodon and extant parascylliids have a distinctive vertebral morphology previously described only in Carcharhiniformes, contributing a skeletal perspective to the picture emerging from macroevolutionary analyses of coastal, small-bodied origins for galeomorphs.

Keywords: Elasmobranchii, Orectolobiformes, Galeomorphii, CT scanning, Cretaceous

 

Class. Chondrichthyes Huxley, 1880

Subclass. Elasmobranchii Bonaparte, 1838

Superorder. Galeomorphii Compagno, 1973

Order. Orectolobiformes Applegate, 1972

Family. Parascylliidae Gill, 1862

Genus: Pararhincodon Herman in Cappetta, 1976

  Pararhincodon torquis n. sp.

Holotype specimen: NHMUK PV P 73821 a

Diagnosis of species: Very small, strongly asymmetrical teeth. Cusp triangular with sharp cutting edge, strongly bent lingually and distally. Lateral cusplet on distal edge of tooth, absent on mesial edge which is developed into slight shoulder. Base of cusp has a labial bulge and the medial section is developed into a low labial protuberance. Parallel folds present at the base of the cusp, some of which travel up the cusp’s face. Root flat and developed into mesial and distal lobes with deep, open nutrient groove.

 

Derivation of name: From torc, a metal collar associated with cultures from the European Iron Age.

Richard P. Dearden, Zerina Johanson, Helen L. O’Neill, Kieran Miles, Emma L. Bernard, Brett Clark, Charlie J. Underwood and Martin Rücklin. 2025. Three-dimensional Fossils of a Cretaceous Collared Carpet Shark (Parascylliidae, Orectolobiformes) shed light on Skeletal Evolution in galeomorphs. R. Soc. Open Sci. 12: 242011. DOI: doi.org/10.1098/rsos.242011 [30 April 2025]

 

  

[PaleoIchthyology • 2025] Clavusodens mcginnisi • Obruchevodid petalodonts (Chondrichthyes: Petalodontiformes; Obruchevodidae) from the Middle Mississippian (Viséan) Joppa Member of the Ste. Genevieve Formation at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, U.S.A.

Clavusodens mcginnisi 
Hodnett, Egli, Toomey, Olson, Tolleson, Boldon, Tweet & Santucci, 2025

  Netsepoye hawesi  Lund, 1989

DOI: doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2024.40  

home.NPS.gov/maca

Art by Benji Paysnoe.

  

Abstract

Obruchevodid petalodonts are rare small chondrichthyans known from nearly complete to partial skeletons from the Upper Mississippian (Serpukhovian) Bear Gulch Limestone of central Montana and isolated teeth from the Upper Mississippian Bangor Limestone of northern Alabama. New records of obruchevodid petalodonts are presented here from the Middle Mississippian (Viséan) Joppa Member of the Ste. Genevieve Formation at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. Obruchevodids are here represented by multiple teeth of a new taxon, Clavusodens mcginnisi n. gen. n. sp., and a single tooth referred to ?Netsepoye sp. Clavusodens mcginnisi n. gen. n. sp. is characterized by teeth with pointed mesiodistal and lingual margins and more robust chisel-like cusps on the anterolateral and distolateral teeth. The suggestion that obruchevodid petalodonts evolved to inhabit complex reef-like environments and other nearshore habitats with a feeding ecology analogous to extant triggerfish is explored and discussed.

  Netsepoye hawesi;
(1) Reconstruction of the skeleton of Netsepoye hawesi based on holotype CM 46092 from the Heath Formation of Montana; 
(3) revised reconstruction of the upper and lower dentition of N. hawesi.

 Tentative reconstruction of Clavusodens mcginnisi n. gen. n. sp. (modeled after Netsepoye) feeding on phyllocarid crustaceans on the sea floor of a crinoidal forest from the Joppa Member of the Ste. Genevieve Formation, with the ctenacanth Glikmanius careforum swimming overhead.

Art by Benji Paysnoe.

Systematic paleontology

Class Chondrichthyes Huxley, 1880

Subclass Euchondrocephali Lund and Grogan, Reference Lund and Grogan, 1997

Order Petalodontiformes Patterson, 1965

Family Obruchevodidae Lund, Grogan, and Fath, 2014

Genus Clavusodens new genus

 

Occurrence: Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, Middle Mississippian (upper Viséan) Joppa Member, Ste. Genevieve Formation.

Etymology: Latin, clavus (nail), and dents (tooth); in recognition of the nail-like shape of the distal lateral teeth. 

Clavusodens mcginnisi new species

Etymology: In honor of retired National Park Service superintendent and naturalist David McGinnis for his leadership in paleontological resource stewardship during his 39-year career beginning at Mammoth Cave National Park.

John-Paul M. Hodnett, H. Chase Egli, Rickard Toomey, Rickard Olson, Kelli Tolleson, Richard Boldon, Justin S. Tweet and Vincent L. Santucci. 2025. Obruchevodid petalodonts (Chondrichthyes, Petalodontiformes, Obruchevodidae) from the Middle Mississippian (Viséan) Joppa Member of the Ste. Genevieve Formation at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky U.S.A. Journal of Paleontology. First View. DOI: doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2024.40  

Fossil Research Identifies New Shark Species at Mammoth Cave National Park

The small shark named Clavusodens mcginnisi, or “McGinnis’ nail tooth,” only measured 3-4 inches in length.

https://home.NPS.gov/maca/learn/news/fossil-research-identifies-new-shark-species-at-mammoth-cave-national-park.htm

Non-technical Summary: New records of two species of obruchevodid petalodont chondrichthyans are described from the Middle Mississippian Joppa Member of the Ste. Genevieve Formation from Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. The two species are Clavusodens mcginnisi new genus new species, which had more robust crushing-type teeth for its kind, and ?Netsepoye sp., which is based on a partial tooth. These two records represent the oldest known obruchevodid petalodonts, which previously were known from younger Mississippian-age rocks in Montana and Alabama. Obruchevodid petalodonts were among the most specialized cartilaginous fishes during the Mississippian, potentially adapted to live in complex reef and reef-like habitats.

[PaleoIchthyology • 2024] Exceptionally preserved Shark Fossils from Mexico elucidate the Long-standing Enigma of the Cretaceous Elasmobranch Ptychodus (Lamniformes: Ptychodontidae)

 Ptychodus Agassiz, 1834

in Vullo, Villalobos-Segura, Amadori, Kriwet, Frey, González, Gutiérrez, Ifrim, Stinnesbeck et Stinnesbeck, 2024.

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0262

 

Abstract

The fossil fish Ptychodus Agassiz, 1834, characterized by a highly distinctive grinding dentition and an estimated gigantic body size (up to around 10 m), has remained one of the most enigmatic extinct elasmobranchs (i.e. sharks, skates and rays) for nearly two centuries. This widespread Cretaceous taxon is common in Albian to Campanian deposits from almost all continents. However, specimens mostly consist of isolated teeth or more or less complete dentitions, whereas cranial and post-cranial skeletal elements are very rare. Here we describe newly discovered material from the early Late Cretaceous of Mexico, including complete articulated specimens with preserved body outline, which reveals crucial information on the anatomy and systematic position of Ptychodus. Our phylogenetic and ecomorphological analyses indicate that ptychodontids were high-speed (tachypelagic) durophagous lamniforms (mackerel sharks), which occupied a specialized predatory niche previously unknown in fossil and extant elasmobranchs. Our results support the view that lamniforms were ecomorphologically highly diverse and represented the dominant group of sharks in Cretaceous marine ecosystems. Ptychodus may have fed predominantly on nektonic hard-shelled prey items such as ammonites and sea turtles rather than on benthic invertebrates, and its extinction during the Campanian, well before the end-Cretaceous crisis, might have been related to competition with emerging blunt-toothed globidensine and prognathodontine mosasaurs.

Keywords: Chondrichthyes, Lamniformes, Ptychodontidae, ecomorphology, Late Cretaceous, Vallecillo fossil Lagerstätte

Romain Vullo, Eduardo Villalobos-Segura, Manuel Amadori, Jürgen Kriwet, Eberhard Frey, Margarito A. González González, José M. Padilla Gutiérrez, Christina Ifrim, Eva S. Stinnesbeck and Wolfgang Stinnesbeck. 2024. Exceptionally preserved Shark Fossils from Mexico elucidate the Long-standing Enigma of the Cretaceous Elasmobranch Ptychodus.  Proc. R. Soc. B. 291: 20240262. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0262

 

 

[Ichthyology • 2024] The Indo-Pacific Stingray Genus Brevitrygon (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae): Clarification of Historical Names and Description of a New Species, B. manjajiae sp. nov., from the Western Indian Ocean

[Bengal whipray] Brevitrygon walga (Müller & Henle, 1841),
 [Dwarf whipray]  B. heterura (Bleeker, 1852), 
[Coromandel Whipray]  B. imbricata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), 
[Sandwich-tail Whipray] Brevitrygon manjajiae Last, Weigmann & Naylor, 2024
[Javan whipray]  B. javaensis (Last & White, 2013) 

DOI: 10.3390/d15121213 

 twitter.com/DiversityMDPI

Abstract

Members of the genus Brevitrygon are small, locally abundant tropical stingrays (family Dasyatidae) occurring in soft sedimentary habitats of inner continental shelves of the Indo-West Pacific from the Red Sea to Indonesia. Formerly members of the genus Himantura, whose members lack dorsal and ventral skin folds on the tail (typical of most dasyatid genera), folds are present or rudimentary in some Brevitrygon. Important to artisanal fisheries and known to consist of at least five species, these fishes are possibly the most frequently misidentified of all stingrays. Most were inadequately described in the 19th century, and they are often taxonomically confused due to morphological similarity, ontogenetic variability, and sexual dimorphism. Their nomenclatural history is complex with four of the known species represented within the type series of one species, B. walga (Müller & Henle). Also, the type of the species with which B. walga is most often confused, B. imbricata (Bloch & Schneider) from off southern India and Sri Lanka, is in very poor condition. A lectotype has been designated for B. walga (confined to the Bay of Bengal). The genus also contains B. heterura (Bleeker) from the Indo-Malay Archipelago, B. javaensis (Last & White) from off southern Indonesia, and a new species, B. manjajiae sp. nov., from the western Indian Ocean. The former species are redescribed and redefined based largely on a combination of morphometrics, tail morphology, squamation, and molecular data. Molecular divergences were detected within lineages of B. heterura, B. walga and B. manjajiae sp. nov., requiring further investigation.

Keywords: Chondrichthyes; Elasmobranchii; systematics; taxonomy; diversity; review of genus; nomenclatural discussion; redescriptions; morphology; genetics; NADH2

  Peter R. Last, Simon Weigmann and Gavin J. P. Naylor. 2024. The Indo-Pacific Stingray Genus Brevitrygon (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae): Clarification of Historical Names and Description of a New Species, B. manjajiae sp. nov., from the Western Indian Ocean.  Diversity. 15(12), 1213. DOI: 10.3390/d15121213

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity of the Chondrichthyan Fauna) 

  twitter.com/DiversityMDPI/status/1770119289024176203

[PaleoIchthyology • 2024] Rostral and Body Shape Analyses reveal Cryptic Diversity of Late Jurassic batomorphs (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii) from Europe

 

Aellopobatis bavarica

Türtscher, Jambura, Villalobos-Segura, López-Romero, Underwood, Thies, Lauer, Lauer & Kriwet, 2024

DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1552

Abstract

The fossil record of chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks, rays and skates) consists largely of isolated teeth, with holomorphic specimens being extraordinary exceptions. However, numerous of these more or less completely preserved specimens are known from several Upper Jurassic deposits of Europe, enabling detailed analysis of their morphology. Batomorphs (rays and skates) resembling modern guitarfishes and wedgefishes (Rhinopristiformes) are among the most common Jurassic chondrichthyans found, but they have been only sporadically studied up to now, resulting in large knowledge gaps concerning their taxonomy and phylogeny. Here, we present the most detailed revision of Late Jurassic holomorphic batomorphs to date, quantitatively analysing body proportions of specimens from Germany (Solnhofen Archipelago), France (Cerin) and the UK (Kimmeridge), using both geometric and traditional morphometrics. Furthermore, we identify qualitative morphological characters for species discrimination, to clarify the taxonomic identity and diversity of Late Jurassic batomorphs based on holomorphic specimens. Our results support the validity of Belemnobatis sismondae, Kimmerobatis etchesi and Spathobatis bugesiacus, as well as that of the previously doubtful Asterodermus platypterus. Moreover, we describe Aellopobatis bavarica, a new taxon, which has hitherto been considered to be a large-sized morphotype of Spathobatis bugesiacus. Our results highlight that the diversity of holomorphic batomorphs during the Late Jurassic was greater than previously thought, and suggest that this group was already well-established and diverse by this time. This study thus provides vital information about the evolutionary history of Late Jurassic batomorphs and has direct implications for batomorph species that are based on isolated teeth only.

Keywords: geometric morphometrics, Batomorphii, Spathobatidae, body shape, cryptic species, Aellopobatis bavarica

Class CHONDRICHTHYES Huxley, 1880

Subclass ELASMOBRANCHII Bonaparte, 1838

Cohort EUSELACHII Hay, 1902

Subcohort NEOSELACHII Compagno, 1977

Superorder BATOMORPHII Cappetta, 1980

Order Uncertain

Family SPATHOBATIDAE Dames, 1888

 

Aellopobatis bavarica gen. et sp. nov.
A, CM 5396. B, NHMUK PV P 6010. C, LF 2323. Scale bars represent 10 cm.

Genus Aellopobatis nov.

Derivation of name: Münster (1836) described a fossil consisting of a dorsal and a caudal fin, which may well be the first mention of this genus, albeit it is impossible to confirm due to the lack of diagnostic characters; he named it Aellopos after the harpy Aello, a hybrid in Greek mythology with the body of a bird and the head of a woman. To honour this original but preoccupied name, we complement it to Aellopobatis. The Greek Ἀελλώ (Aëllṓ) means ‘storm wind’, and βατίς (batís) means ‘ray’ or ‘skate’; feminine.

 

Stratigraphic & geographic distribution: Upper Jurassic of Europe. Lower Tithonian of the Solnhofen Archipelago (Solnhofen, Eichstätt, Zandt, Kelheim, Langenaltheim, Blumenberg), Bavaria, Germany.

Aellopobatis bavarica sp. nov.

 

Derivation of name: The species name bavarica is Latin and means ‘Bavarian’; feminine.

Diagnosis: Guitarfish-like batomorph that is unique in the combination of the following characters: exceptionally long rostrum with paddle-shaped rostral appendix; antorbital cartilages present but not extending halfway between the nasal capsules and the propterygium; 38–46 pectoral radials (9–11 propterygial, 9–12 mesopterygial and 20–23 metapterygial); no pectoral radials articulating directly with the scapulocoracoid between the meso- and metapterygium; pectoral radials segmented in up to five segments; at least 14 pairs of ribs; c. 21 basipterygial radials (including one compound radial); puboischiadic bar curved anteriorly; claspers long and slender; no fin spines present.

Type locality: Lower Tithonian; Kelheim, Bavaria, Germany.

Julia Türtscher, Patrick L. Jambura, Eduardo Villalobos-Segura, Faviel A. López-Romero, Charlie J. Underwood, Detlev Thies, Bruce Lauer, René Lauer and Jürgen Kriwet. 2024. Rostral and Body Shape Analyses reveal Cryptic Diversity of Late Jurassic batomorphs (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from Europe. Papers in Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1552

  twitter.com/stem_univie/status/1770732869247234402