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Article Megapiranha Paranensis, a New Genus Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29(2):0–0, June 2009 # 2009 by the Society ofProof Vertebrate Paleontology Only ARTICLE MEGAPIRANHA PARANENSIS, A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF SERRASALMIDAE (CHARACIFORMES, TELEOSTEI) FROM THE UPPER MIOCENE OF ARGENTINA ALBERTO LUIS CIONE,1 WASILA M. DAHDUL,*,2 JOHN G. LUNDBERG,2 and ANTONIO MACHADO-ALLISON3 1Divisio´ n Paleontologı´a de Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, 1900 La Plata, Argentina, [email protected]; 2The Academy of Natural Sciences, Department of Ichthyology, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, U.S.A., [email protected], [email protected]; 3Instituto de Zoologia Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado de Correos 47058, Caracas, 1041-A, Venezuela, [email protected] ABSTRACT—Megapiranha paranensis from the Upper Miocene of Argentina is described based on a large, partially toothed premaxilla as a new genus and species of serrasalmid fish (pacus and piranhas) and is diagnosed and distinguished from other serrasalmids based on the following unique combination of characters: seven premaxillary teeth with the first four arranged in a shallow, zig-zag row, and third tooth shaped similarly to the fourth and fifth teeth; large, triangular, unicuspid crowns with finely serrated cutting edges. The phylogenetic position of Megapiranha was determined by parsimony analysis of morphological characters. The resulting analysis recovered Megapiranha as sister to the piranha clade (Pygopristis, Pygocentrus, Pristobrycon, Serrasalmus) and is supported by two synapomorphies: (1) teeth triangular in labial view with well-developed cutting edges, and (2) serrations along both sides of tooth cutting edges. The pattern of tooth placement exhibited by the fossil Megapiranha is intermediate between the double-row condition of pacus and the single-row condition of piranhas, and suggests how the double row of teeth may have been rearranged into a single row in the evolution of piranhas. INTRODUCTION late Miocene fossil vertebrate locality along the Rı´o Parana´ near the city of Parana´, Entre Rı´os, Argentina. Whereas the fossil The Serrasalmidae are a family of South American fresh- premaxilla and teeth are obviously distinct from modern serra- water characiform fishes including the well known flesh-eating salmids, its sharp, blade-like and somewhat compressed teeth piranhas and herbivorous tambaqui and pacus (Ringuelet et al., bear some similarity to piranhas. Further, the arrangement of 1967; Machado-Allison, 1983a, b; Je´gu, 2003). Correlated with teeth on the fossil is intermediate between the distinct double- their dietary diversity, serrasalmids exhibit a remarkable array and single-row patterns of modern serrasalmids, suggesting as of specialized dentitions and jaws. The herbivorous and omniv- did William Gosline how the teeth may have been rearranged orous species have broad, heavy jaw bones each with a double in the origin of piranhas. This fossil is described here as a new row of seven roughly circular teeth bearing one or two low genus and species of Serrasalmidae; its relationships and evolu- cutting edges. The slender jaw bones of piranhas each bear a tionary significance are discussed. single, narrowly compressed row of six interlocking, blade-like Institutional Abbreviations—MLP, Museo de La Plata, La jaw teeth. In 1951, Gosline suggested that the characteristic Plata, Argentina; CICYTTP, Centro de Investigaciones Cientı´- single row arrangement of teeth of piranhas was derived from ficas y Transferencia Tecnologı´a a la Produccio´ n, Diamante, the primitive double row condition of herbivorous serrasalmids. Argentina. Gosline hypothesized that the primitive double row of teeth were “pressed into a single row,” with one tooth dropping out. Gosline knew of no examples of an intermediate pattern. GEOGRAPHIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC PROVENANCE Both piranhas and pacus are widespread today in the tropical lowlands of eastern South America. The oldest known fossil The Neogene fossiliferous beds in the Parana´ riverside cliffs serrasalmids are isolated teeth from the Upper Cretaceous of near the city of Parana´, Entre Rı´os, Argentina have been scien- Bolivia (Gayet and Meunier, 1998; Dahdul, 2007). These and tifically known since 1827 when Alcide D’Orbigny visited the several other fossil teeth and jaw elements from Cenozoic rocks area (D’Orbigny, 1842; Fig. 1). The complex relationships be- F1 pertain to the herbivorous pacus (Lundberg, 1998; Cione et al., tween the marine and continental units cropping out of the 2000; Dahdul, 2004, 2007). The fossil record of piranhas on the cliffs provoked different interpretations. Most authors identi- other hand is presently limited to a few isolated teeth of Neo- fied only one marine unit recognizable at the base of the cliffs gene age (Lundberg, 1998). (e.g. Ameghino, 1906; Scartascini, 1954; Acen˜ olaza, 1976). This One of us (AC) found a very large and partially toothed marine unit is overlain by a thick fluvial and a terrestrial se- serrasalmid premaxilla in the Roth Collection of the Museo de quence. However, other authors proposed two or three marine La Plata (Argentina). The specimen comes from the well known transgressions (Frenguelli, 1920; Cordini, 1949). The current stratigraphic scheme was proposed by Acen˜olaza (1976; 2000; see also Acen˜ olaza and Acen˜ olaza, 1999; Fig. 2) who interpreted F2 the marine rocks as having originated during a single ingression *Corresponding author. Current address: Department of Biology, Uni- represented by the Parana´ Formation. Acen˜ olaza (1976, 2000) versity of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, [email protected] suggested that the marine beds located at higher levels in the Proof1 Only 2Proof JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY, Only VOL. 29, NO. 2, 2009 FIGURE 1. Map of the Entre Rı´os province in Argentina showing the approximate location of the holotype of Megapiranha paranensis between the cities of Parana´ (ca. 3143’S 6031’W) and Villa Urquiza (ca. 3138’S 6022’W). City limits indicated by hatchmarks and coordinates estimated from center of cities as indicated by black dot (modified from Cione et al. 2000). riverside cliffs are relicts of an ancient topography that was The term “Piso Mesopotamiense” or “Mesopotamiense” was wrongly interpreted as different marine ingressions, especially widely in use in the Argentinian vertebrate paleontology litera- by Frenguelli (1920). The Parana´ Formation is mainly composed ture. This term was introduced for the first time by Doering of green mudstones and sandstones with oyster banks (Acen˜ o- (1882; see also Ameghino, 1883). Frenguelli (1920) restricted the laza, 1976, 2000; Chebli et al., 1989) and was apparently depos- “Mesopotamiense” to the “Conglomerado osı´fero.” One of us ited during the large marine encroachment that covered the discussed extensively the use of state/age concept in South Amer- Chacopampean region during the middle Miocene (“Mid Trans- ica (Cione and Tonni, 1995, 1996) although we did not addressed gressive Onlap Sequence;” see Uliana and Biddle, 1988; del Rı´o, the “Mesopotamiense” problem. Cozzuol (1993) proposed to 1991). This trangression probably persisted in the East of Argen- define the “Mesopotamiense” as a formal stage/age unit. tina until the Tortonian (see below). The fluvial Ituzaingo´ For- Unfortunately, most of the fossils in collections from the Parana´ mation overlies the marine unit. This formation is composed of a area do not include adequate provenance. Labels in collections basal conglomerate (“Conglomerado osı´fero”) with abundant usually only state that the material comes from the base of the vertebrate remains which is overlain by almost unfossiliferous cliffs near Parana´. However, recent field work has confirmed that whitish to yellow brown sandstones and green mudstones. Ter- almost all of the Miocene terrestrial and freshwater aquatic verte- rigenous Pleistocene (Ensenadan to Lujanian in the southern brates come from the “Conglomerado Osı´fero” at the base of the South American continental scale; see Cione and Tonni, 1995, Ituzaingo´ Formation. Field work is presently in progress and more 1996, 2001; Fig. 2), poorly fossiliferous beds assigned to different precise information will be obtained. The “Conglomerado osı´fero” units overlay the Ituzaingo´ Formation (Acen˜ olaza, 1976; occurs in paleochannels, is laterally interrupted and rarely crops Iriondo, 1980; Chebli et al., 1989). The Ituzaingo´ Formation (as out because of landslides. There is no basis for recognizing chron- Entre Rı´os Formation) was correlated with the “Formacio´ n ostratigraphic, biostratigraphic, geochronologic or even biochro- Puelche” of the Buenos Aires province subsoil (Reig, 1957; see nologic units based on the fossil and stratigraphic representation below). According to the mammals occurring in the “Conglom- of the “Conglomerado osı´fero.” Consequently, we consider here erado osı´fero” and the stratigraphic relationships, the age of the the “Piso Mesopotamiense” sensu Frenguelli (1920) or “Mesopo- base of Ituzaingo´ Formation is almost exclusively Tortonian tamiense” as invalid. In this paper, we will refer to the fossil con- (late Miocene) or Huayquerian in the local chronology (Pascual tent of the base (“Conglomerado osı´fero”) of a lithostratigraphic and Odreman Rivas, 1971; Cione and Tonni, 1995; Fig.2). The unit (Ituzaingo´ Formation) as present in several localities near Huayquerian ranges from about 9 Ma to about 6 Ma (Marshall Parana´ without recognizing a
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