Galeomorph sharks constitute the most taxonomically and ecologically diverse superorder of living selachians. Despite comprising several typically deep-water taxa, no bioluminescent species have been reported in this group so far. Interestingly, the study of shark squamation has been revealed in recent years to be a good proxy for inferring some ecological aspects of poorly known species. In particular, the high morphological specificity of the dermal denticles and the squamation patterns of all currently-known bioluminescent sharks could constitute a potential tool for predicting bioluminescence in both fossil and living taxa. Following this idea, we provide the first evidence supporting the possible existence of bioluminescence among galeomorph sharks by means of the quantitative study of Apristurus ampliceps squamation pattern. Classical morphometric analysis and multivariate statistical procedures have allowed us to determine that A. ampliceps squamation, composed mainly of bristle-shaped dermal denticles, is highly convergent with that of the bioluminescent shark Etmopterus spinax. The ecology of A. ampliceps, being a species that exclusively inhabits aphotic waters, is in agreement with such a morphofunctional interpretation, but finding photophores is imperative to confirm this prediction.
En el presente trabajo se realiza una valoración patrimonial del conjunto de yacimientos del Mioceno inferior del barranco de Campisano (cuenca de Ribesalbes-Alcora). Los resultados obtenidos al calcular los parámetros según la metodología del Inventario Español de Lugares de Interés Geológico (IELIG) ponen de manifiesto el alto valor científico y didáctico de la zona, así como un valor turístico y recreativo medio. El riesgo de degradación es medio, por lo que debería ser tenido en cuenta para la protección de los yacimientos a corto plazo. En consonancia con estos datos, se propone la consideración de los yacimientos como LIG (Lugar de Interés Geológico) y su inclusión en el IELIG.
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