Journal article
New material supports a description and taxonomic revision of Holoptychius ? radiatus (Sarcopterygii, Tristichopteridae) from the Upper Devonian Catskill Formation in Pennsylvania, USA
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, v 167(1), pp 11-25
01 Mar 2020
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Abstract
New material from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Catskill Formation of Pennsylvania, USA, reveals anatomical details previously lacking from the enigmatic fossil species that Newberry (1889, U.S. Geological Survey Monograph 16:1-228) named Holoptychius ? radiatus. The original material (scales and lepidotrichia) was attributed to Holoptychius (Sarcopterygii, Porolepiformes) according to the ridged ornament on the exposed portion of the scales. Scale and cranial anatomy revealed by the new material supports a reassignment of the species to Langlieria (Sarcopterygii, Tristichopteridae). The emended diagnosis of the new combination includes the grooved scale ornament that was noted, though described differently by Newberry, and a posterior oblique pitline groove of the parietal that extends to the caudal margin of the element. Along with Hyneria lindae and Eusthenodon sp. indet., there are now at least three known species of Tristichopteridae from the Catskill Formation. Temporal/spatial separation of these species, along with supporting anatomical characteristics, suggests that tristichopterids commonly filled the ecological niche of top predator in the Famennian-age nonmarine ecosystems of the Catskill Delta Complex. The presence of a Langlieria species in the Catskill Formation lends further support to a biogeographic connection between Pennsylvania, USA, and Belgium during the Famennian Stage of the Upper Devonian.
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Details
- Title
- New material supports a description and taxonomic revision of Holoptychius ? radiatus (Sarcopterygii, Tristichopteridae) from the Upper Devonian Catskill Formation in Pennsylvania, USA
- Creators
- Edward B. Daeschler - Drexel UniversityJason P. Downs - Delaware Valley CollegeChelsea Matzko - Swarthmore College
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, v 167(1), pp 11-25
- Publisher
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
- Number of pages
- 15
- 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:000620404300002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85072195466
- Other Identifier
- 991019169643704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Ecology