Rostral and body shape analyses reveal cryptic diversity of Late Jurassic batomorphs (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from Europe

Autor(en)
Julia Türtscher, Patrick Leopold Jambura, Eduardo Villalobos Segura, Faviel Alejandro López Romero, Charlie J. Underwood, Detlev Thies, Bruce Lauer, René Lauer, Jürgen Kriwet
Abstrakt

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.

Organisation(en)
Institut für Paläontologie
Externe Organisation(en)
Birkbeck, University of London, Lauer Foundation for Paleontology, Science & Education, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
Journal
Papers in Palaeontology
Band
10
Seiten
1-31
Anzahl der Seiten
31
ISSN
2056-2799
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1552
Publikationsdatum
03-2024
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
105118 Paläontologie, 106012 Evolutionsforschung
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Palaeontology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 – Leben unter Wasser
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/2b426e78-edac-4097-a98f-a5096085e7fa