Vectiscyllium atherfieldensis

Duffin & Batchelor, 2024


Classification: Elasmobranchii Carcharhiniformes incert. fam.

Reference of the original description
Duffin, C.J. & Batchelor, T.J. (2024)
New Carcharhiniform sharks from the marine Early Cretaceous of Southern England. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, 310/2, 161–181

Types
Vectiscyllium atherfieldensis


Images of types

Description:


Citation: Vectiscyllium atherfieldensis Duffin & Batchelor, 2024: In: Database of fossil elasmobranch teeth www.shark-references.com, World Wide Web electronic publication, Version 05/2024

Please send your images of "Vectiscyllium atherfieldensis" to info@shark-references.com

Vectiscyllium atherfieldensis Duffin & Batchelor, 2024, holotype, NHMUK PV P 76895, Bed 14 of the Crackers Member in the Atherfield Clay Formation, Isle of Wight, A – labial view; B – lingual view; C – occlusal view; D – mesial view. Scale bar = 1 mm © Duffin & Batchelor, 2024

Distribution Geographic
Type locality: Atherfield Point, Chale Bay, Isle of Wight. Bed 14 crops out at circa 50° 36′ 23.64″ N, 1° 20′ 57.98″ W; Bed 19 crops out at circa 50° 36′ 19.84″ N, 1° 20′ 49.41″ W. The beds crop out in a 100 m section at approximately NGR SZ462 787.[32662]

Distribution Strategraphy
Type horizon: Crackers Member and Upper Lobster Member, Atherfield Clay Formation (early Aptian, Early Cretaceous). [32662]

Description
Original diagnose after Duffin & Batchelor (2024) [32662]: Rather homodont teeth of scyliorhinid organization defined on the following combination of characters; the central cusp is relatively low and widebased, having the form of an equilateral triangle. Up to three pairs of lateral cusplets may be present, widely separated from each other and the central cusp by shallow Ushaped notches. A tiny additional cusplet may be present between the largest lateral cusplet and the central cusp. The central cusp and lateral cusplets are devoid of ornament labially, but short, fine vertical ridges are confined to the lower halves of the cusps lingually. The lateral cusplet axes diverge from the central cusp axis at an angle of 37° to 47°. A pair of very prominent lateral ridges has a common origin at the base of the central cusp lingually and passes along the centres of the mesial and distal heels of the crown, dividing them into an upper, unornamented half and a lower, heavily ornamented half. A series of short, very heavy vertical ridges with swollen bases is present on the lower labial face of the crown, giving the basolabial margin a corrugated appearance. The labial base of the crown strongly overhangs the root/crown junction. The root prongs are relatively robust with bulbous, uncompressed ends and the root vascularization is holaulacorhize. The basolabial borders of the root and the crown have a wide U shape and the distal and lateral heels of the crown diverge at an angle of between 70° and 115°. Presumed lateral teeth possess upright crowns, whose lateral heels and the underlying root are both asymmetrical.

Remarks
shark-references Species-ID=17167

References
Duffin, C.J. & Batchelor, T.J. (2024)
New Carcharhiniform sharks from the marine Early Cretaceous of Southern England. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, 310/2, 161–181
DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/2023/1176