The skull and the body of Pleuropholis decastroi, a fossil fish from the marine Albian (Lower Cretaceous) of southern Italy, are re-described in details. P. decastroi differs from the other species of the genus by their two nasals that are in contact along the mid-line, completely separating the dermethmoid (= rostral) from the frontals. With its extremely broadened maxilla that covers the lower jaw and its strongly reduced supramaxilla, P. decastroi seems more closely related to Pleuropholis cisnerosorum, from the Upper Jurassic of Mexico, than to the other species of the genus. With its shortened jaws and its numerous orbital bones, Pleuropholis also appears to be the most specialized genus of the family. The systematic position of Pleuropholidae within the “pholidophoriform” assemblage is discussed.
New data on Pleuropholis decastroi (Teleostei, Pleuropholidae), a “pholidophoriform” fish from the Lower Cretaceous of the Eurafrican Mesogea
Capasso L.
2019-01-01
Abstract
The skull and the body of Pleuropholis decastroi, a fossil fish from the marine Albian (Lower Cretaceous) of southern Italy, are re-described in details. P. decastroi differs from the other species of the genus by their two nasals that are in contact along the mid-line, completely separating the dermethmoid (= rostral) from the frontals. With its extremely broadened maxilla that covers the lower jaw and its strongly reduced supramaxilla, P. decastroi seems more closely related to Pleuropholis cisnerosorum, from the Upper Jurassic of Mexico, than to the other species of the genus. With its shortened jaws and its numerous orbital bones, Pleuropholis also appears to be the most specialized genus of the family. The systematic position of Pleuropholidae within the “pholidophoriform” assemblage is discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
