Skip to content Skip to navigation

Article: The first skeletal record of the enigmatic Cretaceous sawfish genus Ptychotrygon (Chondrichthyes, Batoidea) from the Turonian of Morocco

Papers in Palaeontology - Volume 7 Issue 1 - Cover
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 7
Part: 1
Publication Date: Febuary 2021
Page(s): 353 376
Author(s): Eduardo Villalobos‐Segura, Charlie J. Underwood, and David J. Ward
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1287
Addition Information

How to Cite

VILLALOBOS‐SEGURA, E., UNDERWOOD, C.J., WARD, D.J. 2021. . Papers in Palaeontology, 7, 1, 353-376. DOI: /doi/10.1002/spp2.1287

Author Information

  • Eduardo Villalobos‐Segura - School of Earth Sciences Birkbeck College Malet Street London WC1E 7HX UK
  • Charlie J. Underwood - School of Earth Sciences Birkbeck College Malet Street London WC1E 7HX UK
  • David J. Ward - Department of Earth Sciences The Natural History Museum London SW7 5BD UK

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 08 March 2021
  • Manuscript Accepted: 19 June 2019
  • Manuscript Received: 08 February 2019

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
Get Article: Wiley Online Library [Pay-to-View Access] |

Abstract

A new fossil batoid (ray) Ptychotrygon rostrispatula sp. nov. is described from five exceptionally well‐preserved, three‐dimensional skeletal remains from the Turonian (Late Cretaceous) of Morocco. These specimens represent the first known skeletal remains for the genus Ptychotrygon and allow an almost complete description of the genus, providing a new insight into its phylogenetic relations and validating its taxonomic status as a member of the Sclerorhynchoidei. Mechanical preparation of the fossil remains revealed a relatively large batoid species (estimated total length above 1 m). Overall the morphology resembles that of sclerorhynchoids, with a robust hypertrophied rostrum that lacks enlarged rostral denticles with enlarged paddle‐like pectoral proximal elements (propterygium, mesopterygium and metapterygium). Never before seen details of the branchial skeleton are presented (large second hypobranchial without anterior process, which was probably fused to the basibranchial and no evidence of articulation with other branchial element). To assess the phylogenetic relations of these specimens within the sclerorhynchoids a parsimonious analysis using TNT and PAUP was performed. These analyses included Asflapristis cristadentis and Ptychotrygon rostrispatula sp. nov., which were used as representatives of Ptychotrygonidae, and also includes six other genera of sclerorhynchoids with relatively good skeletal remains. Both analyses recovered two monophyletic groups within sclerorhynchoids: the first contains IschyrhizaOnchopristis and Schizorhiza, and a second that includes MicropristisSclerorhynchusLibanopristis and Ptychotrygonidae.

PalAss Go! URL: http://go.palass.org/laj | Twitter: Share on Twitter | Facebook: Share on Facebook | Google+: Share on Google+