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New Remigolepis (Placodermi; Antiarchi) from Canowindra, New South Wales, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 1997

ZERINA JOHANSON
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecostratigraphy and Palaeobiology, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia and Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney South, NSW 2000, Australia

Abstract

Remigolepis walkeri sp. nov. from the Mandagery Sandstone (late Devonian) near Canowindra, New South Wales (NSW), is the second species of Remigolepis to be described from Australia, the first being from near Grenfell, NSW. Remigolepis walkeri possesses unusual paired suborbital plates with a large oval structure at the anteromesial edge of the plate, representing an attachment for the autopalatine portion of the palatoquadrate. Among asterolepidoids, this morphology is most similar to Pterichthyodes. Suborbitals of Remigolepis from East Greenland are said to possess a transverse ridge on the internal surface, similar to the bothriolepids Bothriolepis and Nawagiaspis. However, some specimens from East Greenland may show a morphology more similar to Remigolepis walkeri. The internal morphology of the suborbital plates is constant in the population of Remigolepis from the Canowindra locality, suggesting the presence of a single species despite the presence of more than 1000 individuals in this fauna. The morphology of the caudal fin of Remigolepis walkeri is similar to Remigolepis sp. from near Eden, NSW, and Asterolepis ornata, but differs from Remigolepis sp. from China. The morphology of the pectoral and caudal fins of R. walkeri indicate a bottom-dwelling lifestyle, whereas Bothriolepis from the same fauna may have been able to generate sufficient lift from the pectoral fins to enter the water column on a regular basis.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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