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Link to original content: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26018561
Taxonomic composition and trophic structure of the continental bony fish assemblage from the early late cretaceous of Southeastern Morocco - PubMed Skip to main page content
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. 2015 May 27;10(5):e0125786.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125786. eCollection 2015.

Taxonomic composition and trophic structure of the continental bony fish assemblage from the early late cretaceous of Southeastern Morocco

Affiliations

Taxonomic composition and trophic structure of the continental bony fish assemblage from the early late cretaceous of Southeastern Morocco

Lionel Cavin et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

The mid-Cretaceous vertebrate assemblage from south-eastern Morocco is one of the most diversified continental vertebrate assemblages of this time worldwide. The bony fish component (coelacanths, lungfishes and ray-finned fishes) is represented by relatively complete specimens and, mostly, by fragmentary elements scattered along 250 kilometres of outcrops. Here we revisit the bony fish assemblage by studying both isolated remains collected during several fieldtrips and more complete material kept in public collections. The assemblage comprises several lungfish taxa, with the first mention of the occurrence of Arganodus tiguidiensis, and possibly two mawsoniid coelacanths. A large bichir cf. Bawitius, is recorded and corresponds to cranial elements initially referred to 'Stromerichthys' from coeval deposits in Egypt. The ginglymodians were diversified with a large 'Lepidotes' plus two obaichthyids and a gar. We confirm here that this gar belongs to a genus distinctive from Recent gars, contrary to what was suggested recently. Teleosteans comprise a poorly known ichthyodectiform, a notopterid, a probable osteoglossomorph and a large tselfatiiform, whose cranial anatomy is detailed. The body size and trophic level for each taxon are estimated on the basis of comparison with extant closely related taxa. We plotted the average body size versus average trophic level for the Kem Kem assemblage, together with extant marine and freshwater assemblages. The Kem Kem assemblage is characterized by taxa of proportionally large body size, and by a higher average trophic level than the trophic level of the extant compared freshwater ecosystems, but lower than for the extant marine ecosystems. These results should be regarded with caution because they rest on a reconstructed assemblage known mostly by fragmentary remains. They reinforce, however, the ecological oddities already noticed for this mid-Cretaceous vertebrate ecosystem in North Africa.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Aerial photograph (A) and geological simplified map (B) of the studied area.
The localities mentioned in the text are in black font and the towns and cities are in white font in A. C, Simplified stratigraphic section with the approximate position of the localities. Only the sites situated in the Ifezouane Formation are discussed in the text.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Dipnoi, tooth plates.
A, Ceratodus humei (UMI-4); B, Arganodus tiguidiensis (UMI-2). Dotted lines show the reconstructed silhouette; C, Neoceratodus africanus (UMI-3). Scale bars: A and B, 10 mm; C, 20 mm.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Mawsoniidae.
A-B, Mawsoniidae gen. et sp. indet. Right dentary (UMI-1). 1, photographs and 2, line drawings in lateral (A) and medial (B) views. C, cf. Axelrodichthys. Principal coronoid (UMI-30) in lateral (1) and medial (2) views. Arrows point anteriorly. f.V.m, foramen for the mandibular branch of the Vth nerve; pr.Ang, process sutured with the angular; s.att.Ang, surface of attachment for the angular; s.att.Co, surface of attachment for the coronoid; s.att.Mm, surface of attachment for the mentomeckelien; s.att.Part, surface of attachment for the prearticular; s.att.Part+Co4, surface of attachment for the prearticular and fourth coronoid; s.att.Spl, surface of attachment for the splenial. Scale bar: 20 mm.
Fig 4
Fig 4. cf. Bawitius.
A, Posterior part of a maxilla (SESNE 1-03-2008). Photographs in lateral (1) and medial (2) views. m.orb, margin of the orbit; proc.ecpt, processus ectopterygoideus; p.s.c?, pore of the sensory canal?. B and C, scales of cf. Bawitius (UMI-12). Scale bars: 20 mm. Grey drawings are corresponding elements in Weiler [9], plate III (not to scale).
Fig 5
Fig 5. Isolated ganoid scales, teeth and vertebral centra.
A-B: cf.? Lepidotes pankowskii, isolated scales. Arrows indicate the anterior processes (UMI-13). C-D:? Lepidotes pankowskii, isolated teeth (SESNE 1-61-2008). E-F: indeterminate Lepisosteoidea centra, E: caudal centrum (UMI-9), F: abdominal centrum (MDE-F-60). G-I:? Dentilepisosteus kemkemensis (UMI-11), isolated scales. Scale bars: 10 mm.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Obaichthys africanus.
A – C, partly articulated specimen (UMI-31). A, left lateral view of the complete specimen. B, photograph and drawing of the head in left lateral view. C, photograph and drawing of the posterior part of the braincase and three first vertebrae in left lateral view. D-F, isolated scales [UMI-17 (D, E) and UMI-14 (F)]. Bo, basioccipital; Cl, cleithrum; Clv, clavicle; con, concavity; Es, extrascapular; fsal, lateral foramen; fsav, ventral foramen; gr, groove; na, neural arch; Op, opercle; Pop, preopercle; pp, parapophysis; Sop, subopercle; V, vertebra (numbered). Scale bars: A, 20 mm; B, 10 mm; C-F, 5 mm.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Oniichthys falipoui (MDE F-13).
A, left lateral view of a partly articulated specimen. B, photograph and drawing of the head in left lateral view. C, photograph and drawing of the ventral area of the opercular series in left lateral view. Dpt, dermopterotic; Epi, epioccipital; Es, extrascapular; Iop, interopercle; Op, opercle; Pa, parietal; Pop, preopercle; Sob, suborbital; Sop, subopercle. Scale bars: A, 20 mm; B, 10 mm; C, 3 mm.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Calamopleurus africanus (MDE F-57).
Photographs (1) and interpretative drawing (2) of the braincase in dorsal (A), right lateral (B) and ventral views. Boc, basioccipital; Dpt, dermopterotic; Exo, exoccipital; f.Apal, articular facet for the autopalatine; fm, foramen magnum; f.Mx, articular facet for the anterior process of the maxilla; fna, foramen for the hyomandibular trunk of the VII nerve, lateral line nerve and jugular canal; fnb, foramen for the orbital artery; Fr, frontal; fsal, lateral foramen in basioccipital; f.Vo, facets for the suture with the vomers; fX, foramen for the tenth nerve (vagal); Ic, intercalar; l.conc, lateral concavity; Le, lateral ethmoid; nf, neural facet for the first neural arch; Ors, orbitosphenoid; Pa, parietal; Pas, parasphenoid; pas.t.p, parasphenoid tooth plate; Pe, preethmoid; Pro, prootic; ptf, posttemporal fossa; Pts, pterosphenoid; Spo, autosphenotic;
Fig 9
Fig 9. Erfoudichthys rosae (MDE F-56).
A, right lateral view of the subcomplete specimen. B, photograph and drawing of the head in right lateral view. Ang, angular; Dpt, dermopterotic; Dsph, dermosphenotic; Es, extrascapular; Fr, frontal; g.s.c, groove for the sensory canals; Io, infraorbital; Iop, interopercle; Op, opercle; op.sc, openings of the sensory canal; Pa, parietal; Pop, preopercle; Q, quadrate; Sop, subopercle. Scale bars: A, 20 mm; B, 10 mm.
Fig 10
Fig 10. Aidachar pankowskii.
A-B, right dentary (UMI-159). 1, photographs and 2, line drawings in lateral (A) and medial (B) views. dmt, depression for maxillary teeth; od, oval depression. C, maxilla? in lateral (1) and medial (2) view. Scale bars: 10 mm.
Fig 11
Fig 11. Palaeonotopterus greenwoodi.
A, ventral tooth plate (UMI-10) in dorsal (1) and ventral (2) views. Scale bar: 10 mm.
Fig 12
Fig 12. Concavotectum moroccensis.
A-B, portion of a braincase (SESNE 1-52-2008). A, photographs and B, line drawings in ventral (1) and left lateral (2) views. C, tentative reconstruction of the posterior part of the braincase with the paths of some blood vessels and nerves in left lateral view. D, vertebra in anterior or posterior (1) and lateral (2) views (UMI-15). E, left opercle in lateral view (SESNE 1-48-2008). Asp, autosphenotic; Boc, basioccipital; Exo, exoccipital; Fr, frontal; Ic, intercalar; jug.v, jugular vein; oph.V+VII, ophthalmic ramic of the trigeminal and facial nerves; orn.a, orbitonasal artery; Ors, orbitosphenoid; Pa, parietal; Pro, prootic; Psp, parasphenoid; Pto, pterotic; Pts, pterosphenoid; stf, subtemporal fossa; VII.hm, hyomandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve; IX, glossopharyngeal nerve; X, vagus nerve. Scale bars: 20 mm.
Fig 13
Fig 13. Bony fish assemblage of the Kem Kem beds and trophic niches figured at scale.
Grey figures indicate taxa with uncertain body size.
Fig 14
Fig 14. Average trophic levels against average body size of various recent marine and freshwater assemblages calculated from data collected in Fishbase, plus the Kem Kem beds assemblage.

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References

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Grants of the Swiss National Science Foundation 129923 and 146868 (LC, EL). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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