Revision of the Eocene 'Platyrhina' species from the Bolca Lagerstatte (Italy) reveals the first panray (Batomorphii: Zanobatidae) in the fossil record.

ABSTRACT: The fossil-Lagerstätte of Bolca (Italy) is well known for the diversity and exquisite preservation of its bony and cartilaginous fishes documenting tropical shallow-water marine environments associated with coral reefs in the western Tethys during the early Eocene. In this study, the taxonomic, systematic and phylogenetic position of two batoid species traditionally assigned to the living thornback ray genus Platyrhina is re-evaluated. †Platyrhina bolcensis Heckel, 1851 is recognized as a separate species of the Platyrhinidae because of its plate-like antorbital cartilage with an irregular outline and a small horn on the nasal capsules. Also, the rostral cartilage does not reach the anterior border of the disc. Support for the placement of this species within the new genus †<

SUBMITTER: Marrama G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7455076 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature