A new species of the sclerorhynchid sawfish Borodinopristis from the Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) of North Carolina, USA

Abstract

Elasmobranch fossils recovered from Campanian marine exposures at Elizabethtown, Bladen County, NC, include species from at least seven genera of sharks and four genera of batoids. Of particular interest is the recovery of multiple isolated rostral spines from a new sclerorhynchid sawfish, Borodinopristis shannoni, sp. nov. Species of Borodinopristis are known from oral teeth and/or rostral spines (‘rostral teeth’ for some authors). In species known from the latter, the spines differ from those of other sclerorhynchids by the presence of one or more ‘collared’ barbs on the posterior margin of the crown. Unlike the previously described B. schwimmeri, the rostral spines of the new species have well-developed hooked barbs with collars (curved, connected crests) extending asymmetrically onto the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the spine, as well as small, rudimentary barbs. Also unlike B. schwimmeri, the anterior margin of the spine is strongly convex and there is no enamelled collar at the base of the crown. The new species also occurs in the Upper Cretaceous of the Gulf Coastal Plain.

Keywords:

• Elasmobranchii
• Batomorphii
• Sclerorhynchidae
• Campanian
• North Carolina

Acknowledgements

The authors would especially like to thank David Grabda, Kevin Shannon and Don Clements, who spent hours collecting buckets of sands to find the specimens described herein. The authors also extend their gratitude to the Elizabethtown City landfill for permitting collection at the site, Dr Ming H. Chen for assistance with SEM imaging, and M. Templin for French translation. Comments by H. Cappetta (Université de Montpellier), an anonymous reviewer, and G. Dyke (Editor) greatly improved the manuscript. The research of TDC and MVHW was supported by NSERC Discovery Grant A9180 to MVHW.

Notes

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Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gerard R. Case

1

Todd D. Cook

2

Mark V.H. Wilson

3

Paul D. Borodin

4