DOCSLIB.ORG

BASED FOSSIL RECORDS of TELEOST FISHES by WERNER SCHWARZHANS1,HERMIONET.BECKETT2 ,JASOND

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
BASED FOSSIL RECORDS of TELEOST FISHES by WERNER SCHWARZHANS1,HERMIONET.BECKETT2 ,JASOND [Palaeontology, Vol. 61, Part 4, 2018, pp. 511–541] COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCANNING AS A TOOL FOR LINKING THE SKELETAL AND OTOLITH-BASED FOSSIL RECORDS OF TELEOST FISHES by WERNER SCHWARZHANS1,HERMIONET.BECKETT2 ,JASOND. SCHEIN3 and MATT FRIEDMAN2,4 1Zoological Museum, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark; [email protected] 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; [email protected] 3Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute, Willow Grove, PA USA; [email protected] 4Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, & Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA; [email protected] Typescript received 11 August 2017; accepted in revised form 27 November 2017 Abstract: Micro-computed tomography (lCT) scanning that do not appear in the body fossil record until the Palaeo- now represents a standard tool for non-destructive study of gene. This striking example of convergence suggests con- internal or concealed structure in fossils. Here we report on straints on otolith geometry in pelagic predators. The otoliths found in situ during routine lCT scanning of three- otoliths of Apateodus show a primitive geometry for aulopi- dimensionally preserved skulls of Palaeogene and Cretaceous forms and lack the derived features of Alepisauroidea, the fishes. Comparisons are made with isolated otolith-based lizardfish clade to which the genus is often attributed. In situ taxa to attempt correlations between the body fossil and oto- otoliths of Early Cretaceous fishes (Apsopelix and an uniden- lith fossil records. In situ otoliths previously extracted tified taxon) are not well preserved, and we are unable to mechanically from specimens of Apogon macrolepis and Den- identify clear correlations with isolated otolith morphologies. tex laekeniensis match our lCT models. In some cases, we We conclude that the preservation of otoliths suitable for find a high degree of congruence between previously inde- lCT scanning appears to be intimately connected with the pendent taxonomic placements for otolith and skeletal taphonomic history, lithological characteristics of surround- remains (Rhinocephalus, Osmeroides, Hoplopteryx). Unexpect- ing matrix, and syn- and postdepositional diagenetic effects. edly, in situ otoliths of the aulopiform Apateodus match iso- lated otoliths of Late Cretaceous age previously interpreted Key words: Teleostei, lCT scanning, otolith, Apateodus, as belonging to gempylids, a group of percomorph fishes Osmeroides, Rhinocephalus. W ITH a diversity of species challenging that of all tetra- this remarkable anatomical archive. Such intact fossils can pod radiations combined, teleost fishes are critical com- yield osteological data comparable to that available for ponent of modern vertebrate biodiversity. Extant teleosts extant species, and can be critical for illuminating patterns occupy aquatic settings ranging from ocean trenches to of character evolution (Friedman 2008) or resolving phy- alpine streams, and show a striking range of anatomical logenetic relationships (Grande 2010). Articulated speci- innovations reflecting a broad range of ecologies (Nelson mens also provide the substrate for functional and et al. 2016). Diversity in the modern fauna is comple- palaeobiological analysis, ranging from individual anatom- mented by a rich fossil record, which, for the teleost ical systems (e.g. jaws: Bellwood et al. 2015) to overall total-group, is well established since the Early Jurassic geometry of the body and fins (e.g. Friedman 2010). and extends deep into the Triassic (Friedman 2015; Despite these clear strengths, the body fossil record of tel- Tintori et al. 2015). eosts suffers from conspicuous deficiencies. The preserva- Teleosts, and indeed fishes generally, are unusual tion of articulated fishes requires particular taphonomic among vertebrates in having a fossil record characterized conditions, with horizons yielding complete skeletons by a relative abundance of articulated, effectively complete generally restricted to specific facies such as laminated skeletons. The bulk of our understanding of the relation- limestones and anoxic shales. The result is a highly ships and diversification of extinct fishes, from the semi- heterogenous, gap-filled stratigraphic distribution of nal work of Agassiz (1833–1844) onward, derives from exceptional deposits (e.g. apparent abundance during © The Palaeontological Association doi: 10.1111/pala.12349 511 512 PALAEONTOLOGY, VOLUME 61 sea-level highstands: Guinot & Cavin 2015) that, com- to marrying these two complementary teleost fossil bined with the less informative nature of isolated fish records. The most recent census suggests that fewer than bones, has led to repeated suggestions that the fish fossil 100 skeleton-based fossil species bear otoliths (Nolf record is particularly prone to bias arising from so-called 2013). In many of these taxa otoliths are mentioned Lagerst€atten effects (Patterson & Smith 1987, 1989; Patter- rather than described in detail (but see: Fedotov 1976; son 1993a, b; but see Lloyd & Friedman 2013). Schwarzhans 2014; Prikryl et al. 2017; Schwarzhans et al. Skeletal fossils are not the only palaeontological line of 2017a–e), and most of those in situ finds are from Oli- evidence bearing on past patterns of fish diversity; they gocene or younger deposits. So far few are recorded are joined by a rich record of isolated otoliths. Informally from the Eocene, and none from the Paleocene and known as ‘ear stones’, otoliths are consolidated aragonitic Late Cretaceous (Fig. 1). The Late Cretaceous–Palaeo- bodies housed within the labyrinth organ of fishes, and gene represents a crucial interval in the evolution of are involved in hearing and balance. Living actinoptery- modern teleosts, associated with the origin of many gians have three pairs of otoliths, with the largest typically extant lineages, especially within the species-rich perco- located in the sacculus. First systematically described by morph radiation (Near et al. 2013). In addition, multi- Koken (1884), otoliths are often diagnostic for species, ple skeleton-based lineages of teleost fishes became genera and higher taxa. They are abundant in the fossil extinct at or near the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary record where aragonite is preserved and sediments are (Friedman 2009). Otoliths are virtually unknown for unconsolidated. The otolith record is, as a consequence, these once abundant extinct groups, posing a substantial denser both stratigraphically and geographically than the problem for the interpretation of isolated otoliths from spottier archive of skeletal remains. The ubiquity of fossil the Cretaceous. otoliths led Patterson (1977, p. 580) to conclude that the Heavily compressed skeletons are the most common fossil records of teleosts and mammals were comparable articulated remains in the fish record, and it is from such in terms of quality and density: ‘whereas mammals have specimens that the vast majority of in situ otoliths have teeth, teleosts have otoliths’. been described. However, the geometry of such specimens The otolith record is not without problems. Facies biases is often a challenge for standard tomographic studies aside, otoliths are relatively uncommon in Mesozoic rocks, (although laminography might represent a productive a probable consequence of ‘calcite sea’ chemistry that alternative in the future: Sutton 2008). There are a hand- favoured the dissolution of aragonite during this interval ful of cases of otoliths reported from three-dimensionally (Nolf 1995; similar patterns apply to aragonitic fossils in preserved fish fossils (e.g. the Eocene ophidiiform other intervals characterized by comparable marine chem- Ampheristus: Stinton 1966; Schwarzhans 2007a), and istry: Palmer et al. 1988; Cherns & Wright 2000). Reports while three-dimensional preservation is often associated of Palaeozoic otoliths are sparse (Nolf 2013), reflecting little with famous Lagerst€atten (Maisey 1991; Long & Trinajstic research effort and rarity of unconsolidated sediments of 2010), horizons yielding fully inflated fish crania are dis- this age. These taphonomic and research biases are minor tributed throughout the nearly 450 million year fossil his- in comparison to the greatest challenge of isolated fossil tory of jawed vertebrates (e.g. Zhu et al. 2013; Friedman otoliths: their allocation to genera is almost exclusively & Giles 2016). Here we report on the efficacy of high- based on correlation with extant otoliths, rather than asso- resolution micro-computed tomography (lCT) scanning ciation with diagnostic fossil skeletal remains. This phenetic for isolating otoliths from three-dimensionally preserved exercise becomes more problematic for otoliths from fossil fish crania. Our survey focuses on the Cretaceous– increasingly ancient strata. The taphocoenoses of otoliths Eocene interval, and examines material from a variety of and articulated skeletons diverge as a consequence of min- host lithologies including sands, chalks and clays. eralogical differences, a restrictive range of sedimentary set- Although the quality of preservation varies considerably tings conducive to the preservation of articulated skeletons between specimens, sufficient detail is provided to allow and otoliths, and difficulties in retrieving in situ otoliths us to make comparisons with previously described oto- from articulated skeletons. Because few otoliths are known liths and to test their past taxonomic assignment using in situ from body fossils, the taxonomy of fossil otoliths
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Article Evolutionary Dynamics of the OR Gene Repertoire in Teleost Fishes
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.09.434524; this version posted March 10, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Article Evolutionary dynamics of the OR gene repertoire in teleost fishes: evidence of an association with changes in olfactory epithelium shape Maxime Policarpo1, Katherine E Bemis2, James C Tyler3, Cushla J Metcalfe4, Patrick Laurenti5, Jean-Christophe Sandoz1, Sylvie Rétaux6 and Didier Casane*,1,7 1 Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. 2 NOAA National Systematics Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. 3Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 20560, U.S.A. 4 Independent Researcher, PO Box 21, Nambour QLD 4560, Australia. 5 Université de Paris, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, Paris, France 6 Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur- Yvette, France. 7 Université de Paris, UFR Sciences du Vivant, F-75013 Paris, France. * Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected]. !1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.09.434524; this version posted March 10, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Abstract Teleost fishes perceive their environment through a range of sensory modalities, among which olfaction often plays an important role.
    [Show full text]
  • CAT Vertebradosgt CDC CECON USAC 2019
    Catálogo de Autoridades Taxonómicas de vertebrados de Guatemala CDC-CECON-USAC 2019 Centro de Datos para la Conservación (CDC) Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala Este documento fue elaborado por el Centro de Datos para la Conservación (CDC) del Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Guatemala, 2019 Textos y edición: Manolo J. García. Zoólogo CDC Primera edición, 2019 Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas (Cecon) de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala ISBN: 978-9929-570-19-1 Cita sugerida: Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas [Cecon]. (2019). Catálogo de autoridades taxonómicas de vertebrados de Guatemala (Documento técnico). Guatemala: Centro de Datos para la Conservación [CDC], Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas [Cecon], Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacia, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala [Usac]. Índice 1. Presentación ............................................................................................ 4 2. Directrices generales para uso del CAT .............................................. 5 2.1 El grupo objetivo ..................................................................... 5 2.2 Categorías taxonómicas ......................................................... 5 2.3 Nombre de autoridades .......................................................... 5 2.4 Estatus taxonómico
    [Show full text]
  • New Insights on the Sister Lineage of Percomorph Fishes with an Anchored Hybrid Enrichment Dataset
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 110 (2017) 27–38 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev New insights on the sister lineage of percomorph fishes with an anchored hybrid enrichment dataset ⇑ Alex Dornburg a, , Jeffrey P. Townsend b,c,d, Willa Brooks a, Elizabeth Spriggs b, Ron I. Eytan e, Jon A. Moore f,g, Peter C. Wainwright h, Alan Lemmon i, Emily Moriarty Lemmon j, Thomas J. Near b,k a North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA b Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA c Program in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA d Department of Biostatistics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA e Marine Biology Department, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77554, USA f Florida Atlantic University, Wilkes Honors College, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA g Florida Atlantic University, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA h Department of Evolution & Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA i Department of Scientific Computing, Florida State University, 400 Dirac Science Library, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA j Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, 319 Stadium Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA k Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA article info abstract Article history: Percomorph fishes represent over 17,100 species, including several model organisms and species of eco- Received 12 April 2016 nomic importance. Despite continuous advances in the resolution of the percomorph Tree of Life, resolu- Revised 22 February 2017 tion of the sister lineage to Percomorpha remains inconsistent but restricted to a small number of Accepted 25 February 2017 candidate lineages.
    [Show full text]
  • The Lithostratigraphy and Biostratigraphy of the Chalk Group (Upper Coniacian 1 to Upper Campanian) at Scratchell’S Bay and Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, UK
    Manuscript Click here to view linked References The lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Chalk Group (Upper Coniacian 1 to Upper Campanian) at Scratchell’s Bay and Alum Bay, Isle of Wight, UK. 2 3 Peter Hopson1*, Andrew Farrant1, Ian Wilkinson1, Mark Woods1 , Sev Kender1 4 2 5 and Sofie Jehle , 6 7 1 British Geological Survey, Sir Kingsley Dunham Centre, Nottingham, NG12 8 5GG. 9 2 10 University of Tübingen, Sigwartstraße 10, 72074 Tübingen, Germany 11 12 * corresponding author [email protected] 13 14 Keywords: Cretaceous, Isle of Wight, Chalk, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, 15 16 17 Abstract 18 19 The Scratchell‟s Bay and southern Alum Bay sections, in the extreme west of the Isle 20 21 of Wight on the Needles promontory, cover the stratigraphically highest Chalk Group 22 formations available in southern England. They are relatively inaccessible, other than 23 by boat, and despite being a virtually unbroken succession they have not received the 24 attention afforded to the Whitecliff GCR (Geological Conservation Review series) 25 site at the eastern extremity of the island. A detailed account of the lithostratigraphy 26 27 of the strata in Scratchell‟s Bay is presented and integrated with macro and micro 28 biostratigraphical results for each formation present. Comparisons are made with 29 earlier work to provide a comprehensive description of the Seaford Chalk, Newhaven 30 Chalk, Culver Chalk and Portsdown Chalk formations for the Needles promontory. 31 32 33 The strata described are correlated with those seen in the Culver Down Cliffs – 34 Whitecliff Bay at the eastern end of the island that form the Whitecliff GCR site.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecography ECOG-01937 Hattab, T., Leprieur, F., Ben Rais Lasram, F., Gravel, D., Le Loc’H, F
    Ecography ECOG-01937 Hattab, T., Leprieur, F., Ben Rais Lasram, F., Gravel, D., Le Loc’h, F. and Albouy, C. 2016. Forecasting fine- scale changes in the food-web structure of coastal marine communities under climate change. – Ecography doi: 10.1111/ecog.01937 Supplementary material Forecasting fine-scale changes in the food-web structure of coastal marine communities under climate change by Hattab et al. Appendix 1 List of coastal exploited marine species considered in this study Species Genus Order Family Class Trophic guild Auxis rochei rochei (Risso, 1810) Auxis Perciformes Scombridae Actinopterygii Top predators Balistes capriscus Gmelin, 1789 Balistes Tetraodontiformes Balistidae Actinopterygii Macro-carnivorous Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) Boops Perciformes Sparidae Actinopterygii Basal species Carcharhinus plumbeus (Nardo, 1827) Carcharhinus Carcharhiniformes Carcharhinidae Elasmobranchii Top predators Dasyatis pastinaca (Linnaeus, 1758) Dasyatis Rajiformes Dasyatidae Elasmobranchii Top predators Dentex dentex (Linnaeus, 1758) Dentex Perciformes Sparidae Actinopterygii Macro-carnivorous Dentex maroccanus Valenciennes, 1830 Dentex Perciformes Sparidae Actinopterygii Macro-carnivorous Diplodus annularis (Linnaeus, 1758) Diplodus Perciformes Sparidae Actinopterygii Forage species Diplodus sargus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758) Diplodus Perciformes Sparidae Actinopterygii Macro-carnivorous (Geoffroy Saint- Diplodus vulgaris Hilaire, 1817) Diplodus Perciformes Sparidae Actinopterygii Basal species Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758) Engraulis
    [Show full text]
  • Recent Data of Maximum Age and Length of Painted Comber Serranus Scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) in Mediterranean Sea
    ISSN: 0001-5113 ACTA ADRIAT., UDC: 594.1 (497.5) (262.3) AADRAY 51(2): 223 - 226, 2010 Recent data of maximum age and length of painted comber Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) in Mediterranean Sea Barbara ZORICA*, Armin PALLAORO, Gorenka SINOVČIĆ and Vanja ČIKEŠ KEČ Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, P.O. Box 500, 21 000 Split, Croatia *Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] The present study was undertaken not only to register the new recently noticed maximum age and total length of Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758), contributing to the knowledge of this species in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea inclusively. A painted comber specimen of 323 mm of total length and age 16 years was caught during August 2008 in the Lavdra Channel (middle-eastern Adriatic Sea). Key words: Serranus scriba, Serranidae, maximum length, maximum age, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean INTRODUCTION (43º55’N and 15º13’E) by a fishhook at a depth of 3.5 m. All lengths of the specimen were In fisheries science, theoretical parameters measured up to the nearest 0.1 cm and weighed such as maximum length, weight and age are with an electric balance to the nearest 0.1 g. The very important as they directly and indirectly sagittal otolith was removed by opening the otic enter into most of the models used in stock bulla under the operculum, washed in freshwa- assessments (BORGES, 2001). Thereupon, updat- ter and stored in plastic tube prior to ageing. ing the maximum size of a species that might The fish was dissected for determination of become commercially exploited is significant.
    [Show full text]
  • Annotated Checklist of Fossil Fishes from the Smoky Hill Chalk of the Niobrara Chalk (Upper Cretaceous) in Kansas
    Lucas, S. G. and Sullivan, R.M., eds., 2006, Late Cretaceous vertebrates from the Western Interior. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 35. 193 ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF FOSSIL FISHES FROM THE SMOKY HILL CHALK OF THE NIOBRARA CHALK (UPPER CRETACEOUS) IN KANSAS KENSHU SHIMADA1 AND CHRISTOPHER FIELITZ2 1Environmental Science Program and Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University,2325 North Clifton Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60614; and Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, 3000 Sternberg Drive, Hays, Kansas 67601;2Department of Biology, Emory & Henry College, P.O. Box 947, Emory, Virginia 24327 Abstract—The Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Chalk is an Upper Cretaceous marine deposit found in Kansas and adjacent states in North America. The rock, which was formed under the Western Interior Sea, has a long history of yielding spectacular fossil marine vertebrates, including fishes. Here, we present an annotated taxo- nomic list of fossil fishes (= non-tetrapod vertebrates) described from the Smoky Hill Chalk based on published records. Our study shows that there are a total of 643 referable paleoichthyological specimens from the Smoky Hill Chalk documented in literature of which 133 belong to chondrichthyans and 510 to osteichthyans. These 643 specimens support the occurrence of a minimum of 70 species, comprising at least 16 chondrichthyans and 54 osteichthyans. Of these 70 species, 44 are represented by type specimens from the Smoky Hill Chalk. However, it must be noted that the fossil record of Niobrara fishes shows evidence of preservation, collecting, and research biases, and that the paleofauna is a time-averaged assemblage over five million years of chalk deposition.
    [Show full text]
  • (Early Palaeocene), Withers, 1914
    Meded. Werkgr. Tert. Kwart. Geol. 25(2-3) 175-196 2 figs, 1 pi. Leiden, oktober 1988 The biostratigraphy of the Geulhem Member (Early Palaeocene), with reference to the occurrence of Pycnolepas bruennichi Withers, 1914 (Crustacea, Cirripedia) by J.W.M. Jagt Venlo, The Netherlands and J.S.H. Collins London, United Kingdom Jagt, &J.S.H. Collins. The biostratigraphy of the Geulhem reference of Member (Early Palaeocene), with to the occurrence Pyc- nolepas bruennichi Withers, 1914 (Crustacea, Cirripedia).—Meded. Werkgr. Tert. Kwart. Geol., 25(2-3): 175-196, 2 figs, 1 pi. Leiden, October 1988. Valves of the brachylepadomorph cirripede Pycnolepas bruennichi Withers, 1914 are reported from the Early Palaeocene of the environs of Maastricht (The Netherlands and NE Belgium). The occurrenceof this distinctive species provides additional proof of a correlationof the with the in Maastricht Danish Danian Early Palaeocene the area. A discussion of the biostratigraphy of the Geulhem Member (Houthem Formation) from which the cirripede remains were collected is presented. It is concluded that P. bruennichi is restricted to strata of Palaeocene in Denmark well in the Early (Danian) age as as Maastrichtian type area (SE Netherlands, NE Belgium). John W.M. Jagt, 2de Maasveldstraat 47, 5921 JN Venlo, The Netherlands; J. S.H. Collins, 63 Oakhurst Grove, East Dulwich, Lon- don SE22 9AH, United Kingdom. Contents 176 Samenvatting, p. Introduction, p. 176 177 Systematic description, p. and distribution of P. 178 Stratigraphic geographic bruennichi, p. of the Geulhem 182 Stratigraphy Member, p. Conclusion, p. 190 191 Acknowledgements, p. References, p. 191. 176 Samenvatting De de Geulhem Kalksteen voorkomen biostratigrafie van (Vroeg Paleoceen) naar aanleiding van het 1914 van Pycnolepas bruennichi Withers, (Crustacea, Cirripedia).
    [Show full text]
  • SHORT COMMUNICATION Rapid Visual Assessment of Fish
    Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 115 - 134, 2010 © 2010 WIOMSA SHORT COMMUNICATION Rapid Visual Assessment of Fish Communities on Selected Reefs in the Bazaruto Archipelago Jade Q. Maggs1, Camilla Floros1, Marcos A.M. Pereira2 and Michael H. Schleyer1 1Oceanographic Research Institute, P.O. Box 10712, Marine Parade, 4056 South Africa; 2Associação para Investigação Costeira e Marinha (AICM), P.O. Box 2046, Maputo, Mozambique. Keywords: Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique, ichthyofauna, fish surveys, underwater visual census, coral reefs. Abstract— Rapid visual censuses were conducted of fish on eight coral reefs in the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique, in 2007. SCUBA and snorkelling were used for the censuses in depths between 1-20 m, yielding an inventory of 249 fish species belonging to 50 families. This is intended to serve as a baseline for more detailed studies and monitoring programmes in the future. Although fewer species were recorded relative to other studies conducted in the Western Indian Ocean, the trophic structure on Bazaruto’s reefs proved typical for the region, indicating a relative measure of reef health. However, other regional studies were not directly comparable, differing in habitat, duration of sampling effort and methodology. This highlighted the need for a long-term monitoring programme specifically adapted for the Bazaruto reef types to provide a basis for their sound management and conservation. INTRODUCTION Mozambique in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). The seas around the The Bazaruto Archipelago consists archipelago are rich in marine life of five islands and is located and provide an important source approximately 20 km off the coast of of protein to the local community Corresponding Author: JQM E-mail: [email protected] 116 J.
    [Show full text]
  • Table S1.Xlsx
    Bone type Bone type Taxonomy Order/series Family Valid binomial Outdated binomial Notes Reference(s) (skeletal bone) (scales) Actinopterygii Incertae sedis Incertae sedis Incertae sedis †Birgeria stensioei cellular this study †Birgeria groenlandica cellular Ørvig, 1978 †Eurynotus crenatus cellular Goodrich, 1907; Schultze, 2016 †Mimipiscis toombsi †Mimia toombsi cellular Richter & Smith, 1995 †Moythomasia sp. cellular cellular Sire et al., 2009; Schultze, 2016 †Cheirolepidiformes †Cheirolepididae †Cheirolepis canadensis cellular cellular Goodrich, 1907; Sire et al., 2009; Zylberberg et al., 2016; Meunier et al. 2018a; this study Cladistia Polypteriformes Polypteridae †Bawitius sp. cellular Meunier et al., 2016 †Dajetella sudamericana cellular cellular Gayet & Meunier, 1992 Erpetoichthys calabaricus Calamoichthys sp. cellular Moss, 1961a; this study †Pollia suarezi cellular cellular Meunier & Gayet, 1996 Polypterus bichir cellular cellular Kölliker, 1859; Stéphan, 1900; Goodrich, 1907; Ørvig, 1978 Polypterus delhezi cellular this study Polypterus ornatipinnis cellular Totland et al., 2011 Polypterus senegalus cellular Sire et al., 2009 Polypterus sp. cellular Moss, 1961a †Scanilepis sp. cellular Sire et al., 2009 †Scanilepis dubia cellular cellular Ørvig, 1978 †Saurichthyiformes †Saurichthyidae †Saurichthys sp. cellular Scheyer et al., 2014 Chondrostei †Chondrosteiformes †Chondrosteidae †Chondrosteus acipenseroides cellular this study Acipenseriformes Acipenseridae Acipenser baerii cellular Leprévost et al., 2017 Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
    [Show full text]
  • A New Osteolepidid Fish From
    Rea. West. Aust. MU8. 1985, 12(3): 361-377 ANew Osteolepidid Fish from the Upper Devonian Gogo Formation, Western Australia J.A. Long* Abstract A new osteolepidid crossopterygian, Gogonasus andrewsi gen. et sp. nov., is des­ cribed from a single fronto-ethmoidal shield and associated ethmosphenoid, from the Late Devonian (Frasnian) Gogo Formation, Western Australia. Gogonasus is is distinguished from other osteolepids by the shape and proportions of the fronto­ ethmoidal shield, absence of palatal fenestrae, well developed basipterygoid pro­ cesses and moderately broad parasphenoid. The family Osteolepididae is found to be paraphyletic, with Gogonasus being regarded as a plesiomorphic osteolepidid at a similar level of organisation to Thursius. Introduction Much has been published on the well-preserved Late Devonian fish fauna from the Gogo Formation, Western Australia, although to date all the papers describing fish have been on placoderms (Miles 1971; Miles and Dennis 1979; Dennis and Miles 1979-1983; Young 1984), palaeoniscoids (Gardiner 1973, 1984; Gardiner and Bartram 1977) or dipnoans (Miles 1977; Campbell and Barwick 1982a, 1982b, 1983, 1984a). This paper describes the only osteolepiform from the fauna (Gardiner and Miles 1975), a small snout with associated braincase, ANU 21885, housed in the Geology Department, Australian National University. The specimen, collected by the Australian National University on the 1967 Gogo Expedition, was prepared by Dr S.M. Andrews (Royal Scottish Museum) and later returned to the ANU. Onychodus is the only other crossopterygian in the fauna. In its proportions and palatal structure the new specimen provides some additional new points of the anatomy of osteolepiforms. Few Devonian crossopte­ rygians are known from Australia, and so the specimen is significant in having resemblances to typical Northern Hemisphere species.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Placoderm' (Arthrodira)
    Jobbins et al. Swiss J Palaeontol (2021) 140:2 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-020-00212-w Swiss Journal of Palaeontology RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access A large Middle Devonian eubrachythoracid ‘placoderm’ (Arthrodira) jaw from northern Gondwana Melina Jobbins1* , Martin Rücklin2, Thodoris Argyriou3 and Christian Klug1 Abstract For the understanding of the evolution of jawed vertebrates and jaws and teeth, ‘placoderms’ are crucial as they exhibit an impressive morphological disparity associated with the early stages of this process. The Devonian of Morocco is famous for its rich occurrences of arthrodire ‘placoderms’. While Late Devonian strata are rich in arthrodire remains, they are less common in older strata. Here, we describe a large tooth-bearing jaw element of Leptodontich- thys ziregensis gen. et sp. nov., an eubrachythoracid arthrodire from the Middle Devonian of Morocco. This species is based on a large posterior superognathal with a strong dentition. The jawbone displays features considered syna- pomorphies of Late Devonian eubrachythoracid arthrodires, with one posterior and one lateral row of conical teeth oriented postero-lingually. μCT-images reveal internal structures including pulp cavities and dentinous tissues. The posterior orientation of the teeth and the traces of a putative occlusal contact on the lingual side of the bone imply that these teeth were hardly used for feeding. Similar to Compagopiscis and Plourdosteus, functional teeth were pos- sibly present during an earlier developmental stage and have been worn entirely. The morphological features of the jaw element suggest a close relationship with plourdosteids. Its size implies that the animal was rather large. Keywords: Arthrodira, Dentition, Food web, Givetian, Maïder basin, Palaeoecology Introduction important to reconstruct character evolution in early ‘Placoderms’ are considered as a paraphyletic grade vertebrates.
    [Show full text]