Atlanticopristis

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Atlanticopristis
Temporal range:
Ma
Hypothetical life reconstruction based on relatives
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Rajiformes
Family: †
Sclerorhynchidae
Genus: †Atlanticopristis
Pereira & Medeiros, 2008
Species:
†A. equatorialis
Binomial name
†Atlanticopristis equatorialis
Pereira & Medeiros, 2008

Atlanticopristis (meaning "Atlantic saw") is an

paleontologists Manuel Medeiros and Agostinha Pereira assigned it to a new genus containing one species
, Atlanticopristis equatorialis.

Like all sawfish, it would have had a long snout armed with modified

Kem Kem Beds in Morocco, due to the past connection of South America and Africa into the supercontinent Gondwana
.

Discovery and naming

Fossils of Atlanticopristis were discovered in the

São Marcos Bay, and documents the separation of South America and Africa; while presenting a large quantity and variety of continental and marine vertebrates. Fossils from the Alcântara Formation are highly diverse and plentiful, yet often fragmentary.[1][2][3][4] Fourteen rostral teeth from Atlanticopriostis were brought back from the Falésia do Sismito exposure; due to the fact that sawfish are made of cartilage, their skeletons do not fossilize easily, so most remains found consist of the teeth from their snouts. The specimens of Atlanticopristis are currently housed at the Centro de Pesquisa de História Natural e Arqueologia do Maranhão (Archaeology and Natural History Research Center of Maranhão), in São Luís.[1]

The holotype tooth (CPHNAMA-VT 1174) was designated as such for being the most complete and well preserved specimen. Additionally, several specimens were assigned as paratypes: CPHNAMA-VT 1086, a single tooth and the largest specimen; CPHNAMA-VT 1085, two complete teeth; CPHNAMA-VT 1088 and CPHNAMA-VT 1173, two groups of four incomplete teeth each, all missing the tip of the crown; and CPHNAMA-VT 1173, two partial specimens with most of the crown.[1]

Portuguese

generic name referring to the Atlantic Ocean, in which most sediments of the Alcântara Formation were deposited, and "pristis" being the Greek word for "saw". The specific name "equatorialis" was chosen due to the discovery site being in close proximity to the equator.[1]

Description

sclerorhynchid species
, as well as the sawfish, Pristis pristis (Atlanticopristis in blue)

The teeth on the rostrum (snout) of Atlanticopristis have a varied number of barbs at the front and rear margins. They are also laterally compressed, with both sides displaying thin enamel ridges extending outward from the base of the tooth, forming a fan shape. Some of the teeth also have grooves running down their length on both sides. The peduncle (or base) of the tooth is enlarged, and covered in irregular ridges, the bottom is typically concave, having a sub-rectangular or ellipsoid shape.[1]

The specimens range in size from 11.5 mm (0.45 inches) to 18.8 mm (0.74 inches). The holotype (CPHNAMA-VT 1174) is 15 mm (0.59 inches) in length, including the peduncle; which itself is 6.3 mm (0.24 inches) wide, and 3 mm (0.11 inches) long. It has a thickness of 3 mm (0.11 inches). The barb number on all specimens ranges from two to four barbs at the front margin and four to five at the rear, some specimens like CPHNAMA-VT 1085 having vestigial bumps that could be considered additional barbs.[1]

Onchopristis numidus tooth, displaying the same enamel ribbing found in Atlanticopristis

Sawfish evolved long snouts armed with rows of teeth on both sides, although these spines do not represent true teeth, but highly modified fish scales, or

sclerorhynchids like Atlanticopristis using ligaments, compared to modern sawfish which have their teeth attached via alveoli (tooth sockets). The longitudinal ribbing, or ridges, of enameloid that can be seen on sclerorhynchid teeth would have aided in the attachment of these ligaments.[1]

Classification

Pristiophorids, like this Japanese sawshark, are similar in dentition to Mesozoic
sclerorhynchids, but are not close relatives.

Atlanticopristis belongs to the Sclerorhynchidae, a possibly

Period. The fossilized teeth of Atlanticopristis had previously been referred to an indeterminate species of Onchopristis in 2007 by Pereira and Medeiros, based on the shape of the peduncle, the presence of multiple barbs, and the enamel ribbing.[2] In 2008 the teeth were assigned to a new genus based on the lack of an intermediate form between Atlanticopristis and Onchopristis, as well as morphological differences that distinguish it from other sclerorhynchids. Pereira and Medeiros also stated that Atlanticopristis is so closely related to Onchopristis that, "any other subjective interpretation could consider them as synonyms." The barb number on the spines of Atlanticopristis more closely resembles that of Onchopristis dunklei than Onchopristis numidus, as O. numidus usually has no more than a single barb, while O. dunklei always has more than one. The sclerorhynchid Borodinopristis, also has multibarbed teeth, but is too distinct in all other aspects to suggest a close relation.[1]

The formation of multiple barbs on both sides of the teeth is a characteristic also seen in the extinct Australian sawshark Ikamauius. In general, sclerorynchids all developed dentition closer to that of sawsharks than modern sawfish, but they are more closely related to the latter. This similarity is considered a case of convergent evolution, where unrelated organisms evolve analogous traits.[1]

Atlanticopristis and Onchopristis exhibit similarities to a Bolivian species of sclerorhynchid

paleoichthyologist Henri Cappeta distinguished two groups inside of sclerorhynchidae, separating Onchopristis from Pucapristis.[1]

Paleoecology

spinosaurids

Atlanticopristis originates from the Alcântara Formation, which is dated to the

Coringasuchus anisodontis.[3]

The paleoecological situation in Cenomanian Brazil highly resembles that of Middle Cretaceous north Africa, particularly the

biota can be found in both north Africa and northeastern Brazil. This is a result of Gondwana, a supercontinent that comprised Africa and South America, after their separation, the taxa on each landmass would have continued to evolve separately; contributing to small anatomical differences between the transoceanic taxa.[8]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.4072/rbp.2008.3.07
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 9788571931848
    .
  3. ^
    ISSN 0895-9811
    .
  4. PMID 21437377
    .
  5. PMID 26473044
    .
  6. ISBN 978-3-89937-053-9
    .
  7. ISBN 9780643109148
    .
  8. ISSN 0895-9811
    .
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