BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 December 2012 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
Author Affiliations +
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.

© Publications Scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris.
Héctor Botella, Carlos Martínez-Pérez, and Rodrigo Soler-Gijón "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, (1 December 2012). https://doi.org/10.5252/g2012n4a3
Received: 10 April 2011; Accepted: 1 September 2011; Published: 1 December 2012
JOURNAL ARTICLE
23 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
acanthodiens
Acanthodii fin spines
Aiguillons pectoraux
Celtiberia
Celtiberie
Espagne
espèce nouvelle
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top