New evidence indicates the presence of barracuda (Sphyraenidae) and supports a tropical marine environment in the Miocene of Madagascar.

Recent exploration of Miocene-age deposits at Nosy Makamby, a small island ~50 km southwest of Mahajanga city in northwestern Madagascar, has led to the recovery of a large sample [82] of isolated barracuda teeth (Sphyraena sp.). in a tropical marine fauna that also includes diverse marine invertebr...

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Main Authors: Michael D Gottfried, Karen E Samonds, Summer A Ostrowski, Tsiory Harimalala Andrianavalona, Tolotra Niaina Ramihangihajason
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5441575?pdf=render
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author Michael D Gottfried
Karen E Samonds
Summer A Ostrowski
Tsiory Harimalala Andrianavalona
Tolotra Niaina Ramihangihajason
author_facet Michael D Gottfried
Karen E Samonds
Summer A Ostrowski
Tsiory Harimalala Andrianavalona
Tolotra Niaina Ramihangihajason
author_sort Michael D Gottfried
collection DOAJ
description Recent exploration of Miocene-age deposits at Nosy Makamby, a small island ~50 km southwest of Mahajanga city in northwestern Madagascar, has led to the recovery of a large sample [82] of isolated barracuda teeth (Sphyraena sp.). in a tropical marine fauna that also includes diverse marine invertebrates, chondrichthyans, bony fishes, turtles, crocodylians, and sirenians. Characteristically for barracudas, the teeth are labiolingually flattened and fang-like with a broadly triangular and blade-like acuminate outline and sharply edged but unserrated cutting margins. These barracudas inhabited an environment that included coral reefs (based on fossil scleractinians) and seagrass beds (evidenced by the epiphytic benthic foraminifera Elphidium sp.). The relatively common occurrence of Miocene barracuda at Nosy Makamby corroborates the presence of a tropical marine ecosystem encircling Madagascar by the Miocene, likely similar overall to the environment found there today.
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spelling doaj.art-b4dbb002ddcf4f268aaecc77f7309fe72022-12-21T19:39:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032017-01-01125e017655310.1371/journal.pone.0176553New evidence indicates the presence of barracuda (Sphyraenidae) and supports a tropical marine environment in the Miocene of Madagascar.Michael D GottfriedKaren E SamondsSummer A OstrowskiTsiory Harimalala AndrianavalonaTolotra Niaina RamihangihajasonRecent exploration of Miocene-age deposits at Nosy Makamby, a small island ~50 km southwest of Mahajanga city in northwestern Madagascar, has led to the recovery of a large sample [82] of isolated barracuda teeth (Sphyraena sp.). in a tropical marine fauna that also includes diverse marine invertebrates, chondrichthyans, bony fishes, turtles, crocodylians, and sirenians. Characteristically for barracudas, the teeth are labiolingually flattened and fang-like with a broadly triangular and blade-like acuminate outline and sharply edged but unserrated cutting margins. These barracudas inhabited an environment that included coral reefs (based on fossil scleractinians) and seagrass beds (evidenced by the epiphytic benthic foraminifera Elphidium sp.). The relatively common occurrence of Miocene barracuda at Nosy Makamby corroborates the presence of a tropical marine ecosystem encircling Madagascar by the Miocene, likely similar overall to the environment found there today.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5441575?pdf=render
spellingShingle Michael D Gottfried
Karen E Samonds
Summer A Ostrowski
Tsiory Harimalala Andrianavalona
Tolotra Niaina Ramihangihajason
New evidence indicates the presence of barracuda (Sphyraenidae) and supports a tropical marine environment in the Miocene of Madagascar.
PLoS ONE
title New evidence indicates the presence of barracuda (Sphyraenidae) and supports a tropical marine environment in the Miocene of Madagascar.
title_full New evidence indicates the presence of barracuda (Sphyraenidae) and supports a tropical marine environment in the Miocene of Madagascar.
title_fullStr New evidence indicates the presence of barracuda (Sphyraenidae) and supports a tropical marine environment in the Miocene of Madagascar.
title_full_unstemmed New evidence indicates the presence of barracuda (Sphyraenidae) and supports a tropical marine environment in the Miocene of Madagascar.
title_short New evidence indicates the presence of barracuda (Sphyraenidae) and supports a tropical marine environment in the Miocene of Madagascar.
title_sort new evidence indicates the presence of barracuda sphyraenidae and supports a tropical marine environment in the miocene of madagascar
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5441575?pdf=render
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