Taxonomy and biostratigraphy of the elasmobranchs and bony fishes (Chondrichthyes and Osteichthyes) of the lower-to-middle Eocene (Ypresian to Bartonian) Claiborne Group in Alabama, USA, including an analysis of otoliths
Author
Ebersole, Jun A.
Author
Cicimurri, David J.
Author
Stringer, Gary L.
text
European Journal of Taxonomy
2019
2019-12-06
585
1
274
journal article
24105
10.5852/ejt.2019.585
dca608e8-fccf-4c1c-b8df-ef0c28e1d518
3660259
181B6FBA-ED75-4BB4-84C4-FB512B794749
Trichiurides sagittidens
Winkler, 1874
Fig. 63
A–I
Trichiurides sagittidens
Winkler, 1874b: 31
, pl. 2, figs 22–23.
Trichiurus
sp. –
Thurmond & Jones 1981: 105
, fig. 49.
Trichiurides
cf.
sagittidens
–
Clayton
et al.
2013
: fig. 6e.
Triciurides
cf.
T. sagittidens
–
Maisch
et al.
2016
: fig. 2, 17–18.
Material examined
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
–
Alabama
• 33 isolated teeth;
Claiborne Group
;
ALMNH
PV
1989.4.12
(
2 specimens
),
ALMNH
PV1989.4.73.2 (
4 specimens
),
ALMNH
PV1989.4.102,
ALMNH
PV1989.4.129,
ALMNH
PV1989.4.142,
ALMNH
PV1989.4.151.3,
ALMNH
PV1993.2.500 (
5 specimens
),
ALMNH
PV2005.6.432,
ALMNH
PV2005.6.433,
MMNS
VP-8195,
MSC
12800,
MSC
2159
,
MSC
2405.1
–
2
,
MSC
37356,
MSC
37364,
MSC
37486,
MSC
37520,
MSC
38517,
MSC
38538,
NJSM
24043
,
WSU
13
,
WSU
27
,
WSU
CC 547
(
2 specimens
)
.
Description
Teeth tall, rather narrow, laterally compressed apically, conical basally. Crown sharply curved distally except for anteriorly directed apical portion. Crown apex with sharp anterior carina; large posterior barb composed of translucent enamel. Tooth base with circular outline; shallow, centrally located pulp cavity.
Remarks
An elongated, distally curved tooth with a laterally compressed apex bearing a large posterior apical barb, and circular basal outline distinguish
Trichiurides sagittidens
from teeth of
Sphyraena
and
Trichiurus
.
Trichiurides sagittidens
teeth lack lateral carinae as seen on
Eutrichiurides plicidens
comb. nov.
teeth. The Claiborne specimens in our sample appear to be conspecific with those described and figured by
Winkler (1874b: 31
, pl. 2, figs 22–23) as
Trichiurides sagittidens
.
Trichiurides
is monospecific and presently only known from laniary teeth.
Thurmond & Jones (1981: 105
, fig. 49) described and figured a tooth from the Tallahatta Formation in Monroe County, AL as
Trichiurus
sp., but a reexamination of this specimen showed it instead belongs to
Trichiurides sagittidens
.
Fig. 63.
Trichiurides sagittidens
Winkler, 1874
and
Trichiurus oshosunensis
White, 1926
, teeth.
A–I
.
Trichiurides sagittidens
.
A–C
.
MSC
12800,, basal Gosport Sand.
A
. Lingual view.
B
. Anterior view.
C
. Basal view.
D–F
.
MSC
2405.1, Gosport Sand.
D
. Lingual view.
E
. Anterior view.
F
. Basal view.
G–I
.
MSC
37486, basal Gosport Sand.
G
. Lingual view.
H
. Anterior view.
I
. Basal view.
— J–R
.
Trichiurus oshosunensis
.
J–L
.
MSC
38489.1, basal Lisbon Formation.
J
. Profile view.
K
. Anterior view.
L
. Basal view.
M–O
.
MSC
37657, Tallahatta/Lisbon formation contact zone, courtesy of Bruce Relihan.
M
. Profile view.
N
. Anterior view.
O
. Basal view.
P–R
.
MSC
37146, Tallahatta/Lisbon formation contact zone, courtesy of James Lowery.
P
. Profile view.
Q
. Anterior view.
R
. Basal view. Scale bars = 5 mm.
Stratigraphic and geographic range in
Alabama
The specimens in our sample were collected from the Tallahatta Formation at site AMo-8, the contact of the Tallahatta and
Lisbon
formations at sites ACh-14 and ACov-11, the basal
Lisbon
Formation at site ACov-11, the basal Gosport Sand at site ACl-4, and the Gosport Sand at site ACh-21 and ACl-15. Lower Lutetian to middle Bartonian, zones NP14 to NP17.