Late Triassic pycnodont fish remains (Neopterygii, Pycnodontiformes) from the Germanic basin

Abstract

Isolated dental remains of pycnodont fishes are recorded from the upper Norian (Upper Triassic) of the Germanic basin for the first time. The only complete prearticular dentition differs significantly from those of other Late Triassic pycnodonts such as Brembodus and Eomesodon. However, because the prearticular dentition of Gibbodon, another Late Triassic pycnodont, is not known the new specimens are not attributed to any genus or species. Nevertheless, these are the first indubitable records of pycnodont fishes in the uppermost Triassic outside the Tethyan realm and consequently contribute to our knowledge about the diversity and distribution of Late Triassic pycnodonts.

Convergence in dental histology between the late Triassic semionotiformSargodon tomicus(Neopterygii) and a late cretaceous (Turonian) pycnodontid (Neopterygii: Pycnodontiformes) species

“…Despite that, the lack of digitations could be inferred in a more indirect manner. The grinding and incisiform teeth of unidentified pycnodontiforms described from the Norian of the Germanic basin by Delsate and Kriwet (2004) do not show the punctuate surface, which might be suggestive of acrodin canal system opening to the surface, especially in the heavily worn prearticular dentition. The same is probably true for the Norian pycnodonts Brembodus ridens and Gibbodon cenensis from the western margins of the Tethys Ocean.…”

Early Jurassic diversification of pycnodontiform fishes (Actinopterygii, Neopterygii) after the end-Triassic extinction event: evidence from a new genus and species,Grimmenodon aureum

“…Nevertheless, it is evident that pycnodontiforms first appeared in the Late Triassic of central Europe (Kriwet, 2001b ), and three genera and species, Brembodus ridens Tintori, 1981 , Gibbodon cenensis Tintori, 1981 , and Eomesodon hoeferi (Gorjanović-Kramberger, 1905 ), were reported from the upper Norian of the northern Tethys margin. Additional Norian pycnodontiform records of uncertain affinities were reported from epicontinental seas covering Belgium and Luxembourg (Delsate and Kriwet, 2004 ). Isolated teeth from the Rhaetian of Grozou, France, described as Gyrodus milinum by Henry ( 1876 ) represent teeth of an indeterminate species of the perleidiform fish Colobodus Agassiz, 1844 .…”

“…The oldest remains of pycnodontiform fishes, which comprise both complete skeletons and isolated dentitions, are known from Norian (Late Triassic) marine deposits of the northern Tethys margin (what is now northern Italy and Austria) (Gorjanović-Kramberger, 1905 ; Tintori, 1981 ) and from epicontinental sea deposits of Belgium and Luxembourg (Delsate and Kriwet, 2004 ). They persisted into the middle Eocene when they supposedly were replaced by spiny teleosts (Friedman, 2010 ; Goatley et al, 2010 ).…”

The dentition of the enigmatic pycnodont fish,Athrodon wittei(Fricke, 1876) (Neopterygii, Pycnodontiformes; Late Jurassic; NW Germany)

“…About ten genera are based entirely on isolated dentitions and only 78 species are known from skeletal remains. The evolutionary history of pycnodontiforms encompasses a period of approximately 175 million years (Delsate & Kriwet 2004;Kriwet & Schmitz 2005). They first appear in the Late Triassic (Norian) on the northern margins of Tethys (Tintori 1981) and persist into the Palaeogene (Eocene) (e.g., Longbottom 1984).…”