NEW OCCURRENCE OF Lepisosteid remains (LEPISOSTEIFORMES: LEPISOSTEOIDEA) FROM THE CENOMANIAN OF THE ALCANTARA FORMATION (UPPER CRETACEOUS), MARANHÃO STATE, BRAZIL = NOVA OCORRÊNCIA DE RESTOS DE LEPISOSTEÍDEOS (LEPISOSTEIFORMES: LEPISOSTEOIDEA) DO CENOMANIANO DA FORMAÇÃO ALCÂNTARA (CRETÁCEO SUPERIOR), ESTADO DO MARANHÃO, BRASIL

Abstract

Lepisosteoidea is a superfamily of Lepisosteiformes. Its representatives, popularly known as gars, are divided in two families: Lepisosteidae and Obaichthyidae. The Alcântara Formation (Cenomanian) outcroppings discovered along the Maranhão state coast in Northeastern Brazil revealed a diverse ichthyofauna, at which the Lepisosteiformes occurrence was attributed to Lepidotes sp. based on morphological descriptions of isolated ganoid scales. Herein we describe new specimens of lepisosteoids, consisting of 5 vertebrae and 24 teeth obtained by sifting. The teeth have acrodin cap and apicobasal ridges, whereas the vertebrae have opisthocoelous centra; one of the vertebrae do not exhibit the pattern of centra compression of the lepisosteid vertebral series. Vertebrae and teeth are diagnostic of Lepisosteoidea and Lepisosteidae, respectively. The materials represent the first occurrence of the referred groups in the Cenomanian of Maranhão and expand the previously known lepisosteid record of South America.