Journal article
A New Species ofMegalichthys (Sarcopterygii, Megalichthyidae) from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) of Pennsylvania, USA, and a Report on the Cosmine-Covered Osteolepiform Fossils of the Catskill Formation
Journal of vertebrate paleontology, v 40(2)
03 Mar 2020
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Abstract
New material from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Catskill Formation of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., indicates the presence of a new species ofMegalichthys. A large collection of complete and well-preserved fossil material from the Red Hill field locality enables a thorough anatomical description that is not commonly available in Megalichthyidae. The cranial material includes skull roof, partial cheek, lower jaw, opercular-gular elements, palatoquadrate, and dermal palatal elements. The postcranial material includes pectoral fin elements including cleithrum, mesomeres, and lepidotrichia; pelvic fin including lepidotrichia; and body scales in articulation. The new species is distinguished from other species ofMegalichthysby the presence of a pineal series of bones, a triangular-shaped principal gular, and a lack of sensory canal pores on the postparietal. We review the taxonomic history and status of Megalichthyidae andMegalichthysand provide revised diagnoses for each that include only discrete features demonstrated to be sufficient for taxonomic assignment. We discuss additional cosmine-covered osteolepiform fossils from other Catskill Formation exposures. These include the type and only specimen ofSterropterygion brandeiand seven new specimens (including a partial snout, a partial parietal shield, a partial postparietal shield, a partial cheek, and complete lower jaws) that potentially represent megalichthyid species in addition to the one at the focus of this study. With this description of new megalichthyid material, the Catskill Formation continues to produce, in some cases, the only known Devonian occurrence of otherwise younger taxa.
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Details
- Title
- A New Species ofMegalichthys (Sarcopterygii, Megalichthyidae) from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) of Pennsylvania, USA, and a Report on the Cosmine-Covered Osteolepiform Fossils of the Catskill Formation
- Creators
- Jason P. Downs - Delaware Valley University (United States, Doylestown)Edward B. Daeschler - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of vertebrate paleontology, v 40(2)
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Number of pages
- 26
- Grant note
- 5436-95 / National Geographic Society EAR-9628163; EAR-0207721; EAR-0544093 / National Science Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES); Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000566639800001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85090136054
- Other Identifier
- 991019169556104721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Paleontology