The first record of a shortnose chimaera-like egg capsule from the Mesozoic (Late Jurassic, Switzerland).

ABSTRACT: Chondrichthyan egg capsules, fossil and recent, have a taxonomical significance that can provide important insights into the occurrence and reproductive strategy of their producers. However, the rare occurrence of fossil capsules and their sometimes difficult identification hinder our understanding of their systematics and significance. Laffonia from the Late Jurassic of Switzerland and its probable junior synonym, Pseudocaudina, from the Late Jurassic lithographic limestones of southern Germany, have been interpreted in a variety of ways including as a fructification of a plant, a possible egg capsule of a shark or ray, a presumed holothurian, a possible actinarian, or even a ctenophore. Here, we redescribe the holotype of Laffonia, which has a fusiform body th

SUBMITTER: Zhao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11830639 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature