Neoselachians from the Danian (early Paleocene) of Denmark

A diverse elasmobranch fauna was collected from the early Danian Rødvig Formation and the early to middle Danian Stevns Klint Formation at Stevns Klint and from the middle Danian Faxe Formation at Faxe, Denmark. Teeth from 27 species of sharks are described including the earliest records of Chlamydoselachus and Heptranchias howelli from Europe. The fauna collected at the Faxe quarry is rich in large species of shark including Sphenodus lundgreni and Cretalamna appendiculata and includes no fewer than four species of Hexanchiformes. The species collected yield an interesting insight into shark diversity in the Boreal Sea during the earliest Paleogene. The early Danian fauna recorded from the Cerithium Limestone represents an impoverished Maastrichtian fauna, whereas the fauna found in the slightly younger bryozoan limestone is representative of a pronounced cold water fauna. Several species that hitherto have only been known from the Late Cretaceous have been identified, clearly indicating that the K–T boundary was not the end of the Cretaceous fauna; it lingered and survived into the early Danian

Albian and Cenomanian selachian assemblages from North East England.

Bulk sampling of the marls and marly limestones of the Hunstanton Formation (Red Chalk) and associated deposits at two sites in north-east England has yielded rich and diverse assemblages of small selachians, largely represented by dissociated teeth. This fauna contains over 35 taxa and is dominated by small to very small nectobenthic forms. A large proportion of these are new, and five new species are described: Protosqualus pachyrhiza sp. nov., Pseudospinax heterodon sp. nov, Cretorectolobus gracilis sp. nov., Parasymbolus reticularis sp. nov. and Pteroscyllium ornatum sp. nov. Cretascyliorhinus gen. nov., is erected for Scyliorhinus destombesi Cappetta and related forms. The earliest records of Squalus and the Etmopterinae are noted. The fauna is considered a specialist low-nutrient selachian fauna probably confined to the North Sea Basin

UPPER CENOMANIAN FISHES FROM THE BONARELLI LEVEL (OAE2) OF NORTHEASTERN ITALY

The Bonarelli Level (BL) is a radiolarian-ichthyolithic, organic-rich marker bed that was deposited close to the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary (CTB) representing the sedimentary expression of the global Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2). In northeastern Italy this horizon yielded fossil remains documenting a rather diverse ichthyofauna. The assemblage was studied by Sorbini in 1976 based on material from a single locality, Cinto Euganeo. Subsequently, other localities yielding fish remains have been discovered. Our revision also includes fish remains from three new fish-bearing localities, the Carcoselle Quarry, the Valdagno-Schio tunnel and Quero other than those from Bomba Quarry near Cinto Eugeneo. At least 28 taxa were identified, including nine previously not reported from the Bonarelli Level, namely: Scapanorhynchus raphiodon, Cretalamna appendiculata, Archaeolamna kopingensis, ‘Nursallia’ tethysensis, Belonostomus sp., Dixonanogmius dalmatius, ‘Protosphyraena’ stebbingi and the beryciform Hoplopteryx sp. The overall assemblage mostly consists of crossognathiforms, tselfatiiforms and aulopiforms. A comparison of the taxonomic diversity with coeval assemblages evidences a general similarity with nearby western Tethyan fish assemblages and especially with the Jebel Tselfat ichthyofauna, although some of the taxa are exclusively shared with the assemblages of the boreal realm (English Chalk, Westphalia and Saxony). However, additional information would be necessary to more properly define the main global ichthyogeographic patterns during the Cenomanian

Seláceos do Farol das Lagostas (Bacia do Cuanza, Angola)

O presente trabalho consiste na apresentação da diversidade de seláceos do Farol das Lagostas pertencente à Bacia do Cuanza. Os condrichthyes são componentes comuns da fauna aquática desde o Paleozoico. No entanto, devido à natureza cartilaginosa do esqueleto, o registo paleontológico dos mesmos restringe-se, basicamente, às partes mineralizadas como dentes, dentículos dérmicos e espinhas cefálicas O lugar Farol das Lagostas contém uma fauna de seláceos relativamente rica e variada, representada neste estudo por cerca de 1.000 dentes isolados, além de outras peças esqueléticas. Foram identificados e descritos quarenta e quatro taxa, pertencentes às seguintes ordens: Hexanchiformes, Squaliformes, Pristiophoriformes, Squatiniformes, Lamniformes, Carcharhiniformes, Rajiformes e Myliobatiformes. Trata-se de uma diversidade faunística cuja maioria dos géneros possui representantes atuais. Os Carcharhiniformes representam 53% dos taxa identificados. Estão representadas as famílias Scyliorhinidae, Triakidae, Hemigaleidae, Carcharhinidae e Sphyrnidae, com 18 espécies. Verifica-se a presença de formas bentónicas e nectónicas que indicam condições térmicas moderadas, quentes e tropicais a temperadas, que habitam frequentemente zonas costeiras. A relação faunística identificada corresponde a uma zona litoral. Ora, considerando o conjunto de dados em face da presença de fauna pelágica e dos grandes predadores, especialmente Isurus hastalis e Carcharocles megalodon, podemos admitir que existisse então um Golfo relativamente largo de uma faixa Atlântica aberta (Antunes & Balbino, 2004); ABSTRACT: Selachians from Farol the Lagostas (Cuanza Basin, Angola) The present work consists of the presentation of diversity of selachians from Farol das Lagostas, which belongs to the Cuanza Basin. The condrichthyes are a part of aquatic fauna since the Paleozoic. However, due to the nature of the cartilaginous skeleton, the paleontological registration of the same ones is restricted to mineralized parts like teeth, dermal denticles and cephalic spines. The of formation, Farol das Lagostas has a fauna of selachian relatively rich and diverse, represented in this study for around 1.000 isolated teeth, and other skeletal parts. Forty four taxa were described and identified, belonging to the following orders: Hexanchiformes, Squaliformes, Pristiophoriformes, Squatiniformes, Lamniformes, Carcharhiniformes, Rajiformes e Myliobatiformes. It’s a faunal diversity whose most genera have current representatives. The Carcharhiniformes represente 53% of the identified taxa. The represented families are Scyliorhinidae, Triakidae, Hemigaleidae, Carcharhinidae e Sphyrnidae, with 18 species. There is presence of benthic and nektonic forms that indicate moderate thermal conditions, the temperate and tropical hot, often inhabit coastal areas. The identified faunal relation corresponds to a coastal zone. So, considering the data set, due to the presence of pelagic fauna and large predators, especially Isurus hastalis e Carcharocles megalodon, we can admit that then there was a relatively large Gulf of open Atlantic range (Antunes & Balbino, 2004)

Species diversity, taxonomy and distribution of Chondrichthyes in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

Species diversity assessments are an important step to evaluate the conservation status of a community, both in marine and terrestrial ecosystems. These assessments are pivotal if related to both, the constant increase of human pressure on ecosystems and the anthropogenic climate change occurring nowadays. Sharks and rays are globally threatened, and the situation is particularly alarming in the Mediterranean Sea where more than 50% of species are listed at risk of extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In this paper, we revise and discuss the chondrichthyan species richness of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Through an accurate review of published taxonomic studies, historical data on species occurrence, analyses of scientific survey data and biodiversity databases and other scientific papers, we produced a revised list of species whose presence in the Mediterranean Sea is confirmed or highly probable and discussed on current taxonomic and occurrence disputes on the species that are instead rarer or claimed to be locally extinct. We listed a total of 88 species, representing 30 families and 48 genera that are currently present in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. This number includes 48 shark species, 38 batoids, and 2 chimaeras. The review represents a reference for future conservation assessments of cartilaginous fish in the region and a guide for decision-makers when promoting the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resource within an ecosystem-based framework. This paper can help to set a baseline of the Mediterranean species and thus resolve some uncertainties regarding their conservation status, explaining the reasons for their prolonged absence in the reports. Indeed, failure to record over time may not be due to grubbing up, but because after careful review this species was not really part of the Mediterranean fauna

TAPEWORMS OF ELASMOBRANCHS (Part III) A Monograph on the Phyllobothriidae (Platyhelminthes, Cestoda)

This monograph aims to provide information on the taxonomic status of all genera associated with the tetraphyllidean family Phyllobothriidae. Full treatments of the three valid species of the type genus, Phyllobothrium, in addition to the 47 valid species of Clistobothrium, Crossobothrium, Marsupiobothrium, Monorygma, Nandocestus, Orectolobicestus, Orygmatobothrium, Paraorygmatobothrium, Ruhnkecestus, and Scyphophyllidium are provided, as is a taxonomic history of the family. Of the valid genera historically associated with the family, only Phyllobothrium is considered to be an unambiguous member of the family. The genera Bibursibothrium, Calyptrobothrium, Cardiobothrium, Clistobothrium, Crossobothrium, Doliobothrium, Flexibothrium, Marsupiobothrium, Monorygma, Nandocestus, Orectolobicestus, Orygmatobothrium, Paraorygmatobothrium, Ruhnkecestus, Scyphophyllidium, and Thysanocephalum are valid, but are considered provisional members of the family. The taxonomic status of the remaining genera was also addressed. Aocobothrium, Dittocephalus, Hoaleshwaria, Phanobothrium, and Shindeobothrium are considered nomina dubia. Phyllobothrideum has been determined to be a nomen ad interim. Bilocularia, Biporophyllaeus, Cyatocotyle, Kowsalyabothrium, Maccallumiella, Mastacembellophyllaeus, Pillersium, Pithophorus, and Polipobothrium are considered genera inquirendae. Anindobothrium, Anthobothrium, Carpobothrium, Caulobothrium, Caulopatera, Ceratobothrium, Dinobothrium, Gastrolecithus, Guidus, Mixophyllobothrium, Myzocephalus, Myzophyllobothrium, Pelichnibothrium, Rhoptrobothrium, Trilocularia, and Zyxibothrium are considered valid, but incertae sedis with respect to their familial placements. Anthocephalum, Echeneibothrium, Rhabdotobothrium, Rhinebothrium, Rhinebothroides, Rhodobothrium, Scalithrium, and Spongiobothrium are valid members of the Rhinebothriidea

Updated checklist of marine fishes (Chordata: Craniata) from Portugal and the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf

The study of the Portuguese marine ichthyofauna has a long historical tradition, rooted back in the 18th Century. Here we present an annotated checklist of the marine fishes from Portuguese waters, including the area encompassed by the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf and the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). The list is based on historical literature records and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history collections, together with new revisions and occurrences. It comprises a total of 1191 species, distributed among 3 superclasses, 4 classes, 42 orders, 212 families and 617 genera. If considering only the EEZ and present territorial waters, this list represents an increase of 230 species (27.8%) and of 238 species (29.0%), when compared to the information available in FishBase (2012) and in the last checklist of marine and estuarine fishes of Portugal (1993), respectively. The order Perciformes shows the highest diversity, with 54 families, 162 genera and 299 species. Stomiidae (80 species), Myctophidae (71 species) and Macrouridae (37 species) are the richest families. From the listed species, 734 are present off mainland Portugal, 857 off the Azores and 766 off Madeira. Within the limits of the examined area, three species are reported for the first time in mainland Portugal and twenty-nine records are identified as doubtful. A total of 133 species have been recorded from the extended Portuguese continental shelf (2 off mainland Portugal, 117 off the Azores and 14 off Madeira), two of which are common to the Azores and Madeira extensions. Biogeographically, the Atlantic group is the most important (548 species – 46.01%), followed by the Lusitanian group (256 species – 21.49%), the African group (71 species – 5.96%), the Boreal group (34 species – 2.85%), the Mediterranean group (31 species – 2.60%), the Macaronesian group (21 species – 1.76%), the Atlantic/African group (19 species – 1.60%) and the Mediterranean/African and the Arctic groups, each with only 1 species (0.08%). Regarding the preferences for vertical habitat, the demersal fishes are the most important group (305 species – 25.61%), followed by the mesopelagic group (228 species – 19.14%), the bathypelagic group (164 species – 13.77%), the benthopelagic group (147 species – 12.34%), the bathydemersal group (115 species – 9.66%), the reef-associated group (88 species – 7.39%), the pelagic group (74 species – 6.21%), the epipelagic group (58 species – 4.87%) and 1 species (0.08%) of the benthic group. The oceanic habitat is the best represented group comprising 446 species (37.45%), followed by the shelf group (199 species – 16.71%), the slope group (164 species – 13.77%), the inner shelf group (89 species – 7.47%), the coastal group (70 species – 5.88%), the outer shelf group (29 species – 2.43%) and the oceanic/shelf group (7 species – 0.59%)

Interactions of elasmobranchs with other taxa in Iberian waters: parasitism and agonistic relationships

Esta tesis doctoral está dedicada al estudio de las comunidades de helmintos parásitos en elasmobranquios que se encuentran en aguas ibéricas, tanto en el Atlántico como en el Mediterráneo, con comentarios sobre las relaciones agonísticas entre la tintorera (Prionace glauca) y el pez espada (Xiphias gladius), cuestiones que no habían no ha sido abordadas antes por otros investigadores. El presente estudio proporciona, por primera vez, un informe cuantitativo sobre la fauna de cestodos en cuatro especies de elasmobranquios, el tiburón marrajo dientuso (Isurus oxyrinchus); la tintorera (Prionace glauca); la tremielga, (Torpedo marmorata), y el torpedo común (Torpedo torpedo), en aguas ibéricas (Atlántico nororiental, Galicia; Mediterráneo occidental, Valencia). También investiga el papel de los rasgos específicos de la especie hospedadora para proporcionar estructura a nivel infracomunitario. Este estudio también documenta interacciones agonísticas inesperadas, pero cada vez más descritas, entre tiburones azules y peces espada (Xiphias gladius) en los últimos años, discutiendo su significado funcional e impacto en la población. En general, esta tesis muestra cómo las comunidades de parásitos de elasmobranquios se han descuidado en el pasado, cómo sus infracomunidades están afectadas por la filogenia, las características ecológicas y particulares del hospedador, y brinda puntos de referencia para estudios futuros. Además, al señalar la falta de estudios ecológicos parasitarios de los elasmobranquios, hace un llamamiento al desarrollo de este campo de investigación, demostrando que sería beneficioso para mejorar el conocimiento actual tanto de los parásitos de elasmobranquios como de sus hospedadores, con la esperanza de contribuir en su conservación y al adecuado desarrollo de este campo.This doctoral thesis is devoted to the study of parasite helminth communities in elasmobranchs found in Iberian waters, both in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, with comments on the agonistic relationships between blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius), questions that hadn't been approached before by previous researchers. The present study provides, for the first time, a quantitative report on the cestode fauna in four elasmobranch species, i.e., the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrhinchus); the blue shark (Prionace glauca); the marbled electric ray, (Torpedo marmorata), and the common torpedo (Torpedo torpedo), in Iberian waters (Northeastern Atlantic, Galicia; Western Mediterranean, Valencia). It also investigates the role of key host species-specific traits in providing structure at infracommunity level. This study also documents unexpected, but increasingly noticed, agonistic interactions between blue sharks and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) over recent years, discussing their functional meaning and population impact. Overall, this thesis shows how parasite communities of elasmobranchs have been mostly neglected in the past, how their infracommunities are driven by phylogeny, ecological and particular host's traits, and gives points of reference for future studies. Also, by pointing out the lack of ecological parasitic studies of elasmobranchs, it makes a call towards the development of this research field, proving that it would be beneficial for improving the current knowledge of both elasmobranch parasites and their host, hopefully contributing to their proper conservation and making sure they are worthily validated

FIRST PALAEOBOTANICAL DATA FROM THE UPPER DEVONIAN BOLLONCILLOS FORMATION (ZARAGOZA PROVINCE, NE IBERIAN PENINSULA)

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