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Machaeracanthus goujeti n. sp. (Acanthodii) from the Lower Devonian of Spain and northwest France, with special reference to spine histology

Héctor Botella, Carlos Martínez-Pérez, and Rodrigo Soler-Gijón

Geodiversitas Dec 2012 : Vol. 34, Issue 4, pg(s) 761- 783https://doi.org/10.5252/g2012n4a3

Abstract & References

Machaeracanthus goujeti n. sp. (Acanthodii) from the Lower Devonian of Spain and northwest France, with special reference to spine histology

Héctor Botella

Carlos Martínez-Pérez

Rodrigo Soler-Gijón

Received: April 10, 2011; Accepted: September 27, 2011

[+] Author & Article Info

Author Affiliations

Héctor Botella

Department of Geology, University of Valencia, c/ Doctor Moliner, 50, E-46100, Burjassot Valencia (Spain) hector.botella@uv.es

Carlos Martínez-Pérez

School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ (United Kingdom) and Department of Geology, University of Valencia, c/ Doctor Moliner, 50, E-46100, Burjassot Valencia (Spain) carlos.martinez-perez@bristol.ac.uk

Rodrigo Soler-Gijón

Facultad CC, Geológicas, Universidad Complutense, Departamento de Paleontología, c/José Antonio Novais, 12, Ciudad Universitaria, E-28040 Madrid (Spain) and Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution and Biodiversity at the Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 43, D-10115 Berlin (Germany) rodrigo.soler-gijon@mfn-berlin.de

Botella H., Martínez-Pérez C. & Soler-Gijón R. 2012. — Machaeracanthus goujeti n. sp. (Acanthodii) from the Lower Devonian of Spain and northwest France, with special reference to spine histology. Geodiversitas 34 (4): 761–783.

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ABSTRACT

We describe here a new machaeracanthid acanthodian (Machaeracanthus goujeti n. sp.), based on isolated spines, scales and scapulocoracoids from the Lower Devonian (Lochkovian-Pragian) of the Nogueras Formation, Celtiberia, Spain. The new taxon also includes a fragmentary spine and isolated scales from the Lower Devonian of northern Spain (Palencia and Cantabrian Mountains) and western France (Saint-Céneré) originally assigned to Machaeracanthus sp. The spines of M. goujeti n. sp. comprise two morphotypes in agreement with the morphofunctional model of a pair of pectoral spines articulating with the pectoral girdle already indicated for M. hunsrueckianum Südkamp & Burrow, 2007, M. longaevus Eastman, 1907, and M. sulcatus Newberry, 1857. The morphology and size of the spines distinguish M. goujeti n. sp. from the coeval species M. bohemicus Barrande, 1872; the new species most closely resembles the younger species M. peracutus Newberry, 1857. The spines of M. goujeti n. sp. consist of trabecular and lamellar dentine layers which form the wall of the central axis (pierced by a longitudinal pulp cavity) and lateral expansions. The most superficial layer of dentine is centrifugally deposited in the complete spine; this condition is found in fin spines of some chondrichthyans and contrasts with that observed in typical acanthodian fin spines where the exserted portion is ornamented with ribs of centripetally growing dentine. Very small spines and scapulocoracoids of M. goujeti n. sp. described here, are the first report of juvenile specimens of a species of Machaeracanthus Newberry, 1857. The distal part of the juvenile spine lacks lateral expansions (keel and wing) and demonstrates the first stage in the development of the spine.

RÉSUMÉ

Machaeracanthus goujeti n. sp. (Acanthodii) du Dévonien inférieur d'Espagne et du Nord-Ouest de la France, avec une attention particulière sur l'histologie des épines. Nous décrivons ici une nouvelle espèce d'acanthodien machaeracanthide (Machaeracanthus goujeti n. sp.) sur la base d'aiguillons, d'écailles et de scapulocoracoïdes isolés du Dévonien inférieur (Lochkovien-Praguien) de la Formation Nogueras (Celtibérie, Espagne). Ce nouveau taxon comprend un fragment d'aiguillon ainsi que des écailles isolées provenant du Dévonien inférieur du nord de l'Espagne (Palencia et Cordillère Cantabrique) et du Nord-Ouest de la France (Saint-Cénéré) qui avaient été attribués originellement à Machaeracanthus sp. Les aiguillons de M. goujeti n. sp. se divisent en deux morphotypes en concordance avec le modèle d'aiguillons pectoraux pairs s'articulant sur la ceinture pectorale, comme déjà établi pour M. hunsrueckianum Südkamp & Burrow, 2007, M. longaevus Eastman, 1907 et M. sulcatus Newberry, 1857. La forme et la taille des aiguillons de M. goujeti n. sp. se distinguent de celles de l'espèce contemporaine M. bohemicus Barrande, 1872; le nouveau taxon ressemble plus à l'espèce plus récente M. peracutus Newberry, 1857. Les aiguillons de M. goujeti n. sp. se composent de couches de dentine lamellaires et trabéculaires formant la paroi de l'axe central (percé d'une cavité pulpaire longitudinale), ainsi que les expansions latérales. Les couches de dentine les plus superficielles ont été déposées de façon centrifuge dans tout l'aiguillon; cette condition se retrouve dans les aiguillons de certains chondrichthyens et contraste avec celle observée chez les aiguillons d'acanthodiens «typiques», où la partie libre de l'aiguillon est ornementée de côtes et montre une croissance centripète de la dentine. Des aiguillons et ceintures pectorales de très petites tailles constituent la première occurrence de spécimens juvéniles de Machaeracanthus Newberry, 1857. La partie distale de ces épines juvéniles ne montre pas d'expansions laterales (quille et aile) et démontre ainsi l'absence de ces structures dans les premiers stades de développement.

Keywords: Machaeracanthus, Acanthodii fin spines, Lochkovian-Pragian, Celtiberia, Spain, new species, Machaeracanthus, Aiguillons pectoraux, Acanthodiens, Lochkovien-Praeuien, Celtiberie, Espagne, espèce nouvelle

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