The largest Lower Devonian placoderm - Antineosteus rufus sp. nov. from the Barrandian area (Czech Republic)

Vaškaninová, Valéria; Kraft, Petr

doi:10.3140/bull.geosci.1450

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Previous references to the size of D. terrelli are not based on quantitative approaches ( Denison, 1978 ; Frickhinger, 1995 ; Anderson & Westneat, 2007 ; Anderson & Westneat, 2009 ; Albert, Johnson & Knouft, 2009 ; Carr, 2010 ; Long, 2010 ) and some of them are probably overestimates (e.g., 10 m in Anderson & Westneat, 2009 ). Size estimations of other big placoderms have been founded on corporal proportions of Coccosteus , extrapolating the ratio between some shield measurements and total body length calculated in complete specimens of this species (e.g., Gross, 1960 ; Young, 2005 ; Vaškaninová & Kraft, 2014 ). However, the reliability of such approximations should be questioned since the obtained estimates are too far from the usual range of lengths of Coccosteus cuspidatus (one order of magnitude higher) and the presence of allometry has been documented many times in some shield plates of different species (e.g., Werdelin & Long, 1986 ; Zhu & Janvier, 1996 ; Trinajstic & McNamara, 1999 ; Trinajstic & Hazelton, 2007 ; Olive et al, 2014 ), including C. cuspidatus itself ( Miles & Westoll, 1968 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecomorphological inferences in early vertebrates: reconstructingDunkleosteus terrelli(Arthrodira, Placodermi) caudal fin from palaeoecological data

Ferrón

Martínez‐Pérez

Botella

2017

PeerJ

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Our knowledge about the body morphology of many extinct early vertebrates is very limited, especially in regard to their post-thoracic region. The prompt disarticulation of the dermo-skeletal elements due to taphonomic processes and the lack of a well-ossified endoskeleton in a large number of groups hinder the preservation of complete specimens. Previous reconstructions of most early vertebrates known from partial remains have been wholly based on phylogenetically closely related taxa. However, body design of fishes is determined, to a large extent, by their swimming mode and feeding niche, making it possible to recognise different morphological traits that have evolved several times in non-closely related groups with similar lifestyles. Based on this well-known ecomorphological correlation, here we propose a useful comparative framework established on extant taxa for predicting some anatomical aspects in extinct aquatic vertebrates from palaeoecological data and vice versa. For this, we have assessed the relationship between the locomotory patterns and the morphological variability of the caudal region in extant sharks by means of geometric morphometrics and allometric regression analysis. Multivariate analyses reveal a strong morphological convergence in non-closely related shark species that share similar modes of life, enabling the characterization of the caudal fin morphology of different ecological subgroups. In addition, interspecific positive allometry, affecting mainly the caudal fin span, has been detected. This phenomenon seems to be stronger in sharks with more pelagic habits, supporting its role as a compensation mechanism for the loss of hydrodynamic lift associated with the increase in body size, as previously suggested for many other living and extinct aquatic vertebrates. The quantification of shape change per unit size in each ecological subgroup has allowed us to establish a basis for inferring not only qualitative aspects of the caudal fin morphology of extinct early vertebrates but also to predict absolute values of other variables such as the fin span or the hypocercal and heterocercal angles. The application of this ecomorphological approach to the specific case of Dunkleosteus terrelli has led to a new reconstruction of this emblematic placoderm. Our proposal suggests a caudal fin with a well-developed ventral lobe, narrow peduncle and wide span, in contrast to classical reconstructions founded on the phylogenetic proximity with much smaller placoderms known from complete specimens. Interestingly, this prediction gains support with the recent discovery of fin distal elements (ceratotrichia) in a well preserved D. terrelli, which suggests a possible greater morphological variability in placoderm caudal fins than previously thought.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecomorphological inferences in early vertebrates: reconstructingDunkleosteus terrelli(Arthrodira, Placodermi) caudal fin from palaeoecological data

Ferrón

Martínez‐Pérez

Botella

2017

PeerJ

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“…Tens of short reports and taxonomic studies concerning the fauna of the Suchomasty Limestone by these and other authors do exist, some of them cited in these monographs. In addition to the very diverse invertebrate groups, including stratigraphically important goniatites (Chlupáč & Turek 1983) and tentaculitoids (Ferrová et al 2012), remains of a placoderm were observed in the Suchomasty Limestone (Vaškaninová & Kraft 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Lingulate brachiopods from the Suchomasty Limestone (upper Emsian) of the Barrandian, Czech Republic

Mergl¹,

Jiménez-Sánchez²

2015

Bull. Geosci.

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Lingulate brachiopod fauna from Suchomasty Limestone (upper Emsian, P. serotinus Zone) are examined. Eleven species were observed, of which Kosagittella robusta, Chynithele intermedia, Lochkothele rugellata and Praeohlertella lukesi are described as new taxa. Associated Opatrilkiella kobyla, Havlicekion frydai and Opsiconidion coralinus were described previously from the Chýnice Limestone of the Barrandian area. Four taxa are left in open nomenclature including further evidence of the siphonotretid Orbaspina in the upper Emsian. The composition of the fauna shows distinct difference to other Emsian and Eifelian lingulate brachiopod faunas of the Koněprusy area of the Barrandian. •

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“…Some of them, including the largest species known from the Prague Basin (which has been estimated to exceed 3 m in length), are considered planctivorous (Vaškaninová & Kraft 2014). Other feeding habits cannot be excluded especially in small forms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of placoderm distribution in the Prague Basin (Czech Republic)

Vaškaninová

Kraft

2014

GFF

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The occurrence of placoderms in the Prague Basin (Bohemian Massif; Czech Republic) shows a very unsteady distribution in space and time. The most abundant specimens are in the Lochkovian and, through decrease in the Pragian, they become rare towards the Givetian. The primitive acanthothoracids dominating in the Lochkovian and Pragian are completely replaced by arthrodires at the beginning of the Emsian. All placoderms in the Prague Basin, without any regard to their dimensions, had smooth jaws which is a proof of their non-predatory feeding habit. Although placoderm diversity is generally considered to reflect the Devonian nekton revolution, the abundance of these vertebrates in the Prague Basin displays a decrease, i.e. an inverse tendency to the global one.

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The largest Lower Devonian placoderm - Antineosteus rufus sp. nov. from the Barrandian area (Czech Republic)

Cited by 8 publications

References 19 publications

Ecomorphological inferences in early vertebrates: reconstructingDunkleosteus terrelli(Arthrodira, Placodermi) caudal fin from palaeoecological data

Ecomorphological inferences in early vertebrates: reconstructingDunkleosteus terrelli(Arthrodira, Placodermi) caudal fin from palaeoecological data

Lingulate brachiopods from the Suchomasty Limestone (upper Emsian) of the Barrandian, Czech Republic

Dynamics of placoderm distribution in the Prague Basin (Czech Republic)

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