A new Miocene skate from the Central Paratethys (Upper Austria): the first unambiguous skeletal record for the Rajiformes (Chondrichthyes: Batomorphii).

ABSTRACT: A new fossil skate, Ostarriraja parva gen. et sp. nov., represented by a single partial articulated skeleton collected from the early Miocene fish-bearing strata of Upper Austria, is described here in detail. This taxon exhibits a unique combination of skeletal and dental features (e.g. nasal capsules broad and oval; presence of pectoral arch; compound radial articulated with single radial segments in serial fashion; separated pelvic girdle condyles; reduced catenated calcification of radials; about 86 pectoral radials; 20-21 pelvic-fin radials; 65-70 predorsal vertebrae) that clearly support its assignment to a new genus of the order Rajiformes, and the phylogenetic analyses reveal its basal position within the group. The comparison between Ostarriraja and the holomorphic ba

SUBMITTER: Marrama G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6510527 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature