Taphonomy and paleobiology of the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) pachyrhizodont Goulmimichthys roberti from Vallecillo and Muzquiz, northeastern Mexico

Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Santonian) platy limestone deposits in northeastern Mexico contain diverse assemblages of fossil fishes including the pachyrhizodont Goulmimichthys roberti. A review of 177 individuals from new localities in the Muzquiz area of northern Coahuila and from Vallecillo (earl...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stinnesbeck, Eva Susanne (Author) , Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang (Author) , Herder, Fabian (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 17 January 2020
In: Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology
Year: 2020, Volume: 543, Pages: 109607
ISSN:0031-0182
DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109607
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109607
Get full text
Author Notes:Eva Susanne Stinnesbeck, Wolfgang Stinnesbeck, Fabian Herder, Jes Rust
Description
Summary:Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Santonian) platy limestone deposits in northeastern Mexico contain diverse assemblages of fossil fishes including the pachyrhizodont Goulmimichthys roberti. A review of 177 individuals from new localities in the Muzquiz area of northern Coahuila and from Vallecillo (early-middle Turonian) of Nuevo Leon reveals an unimodal size distribution of the taxon and dominance of 250 to 450 mm long individuals at Vallecillo, while smaller (younger) and larger-sized specimens are markedly rare. Size distribution is similar in the Muzquiz localities. The taxon thus migrated into pelagic environments (e.g. Vallecillo) when maturity was reached. Carcass flotation is excluded for the material due to the abundance of complete and articulated specimens. The taphonomical decay analysis of G. roberti allows for a differentiation of four preservational stages and evidences environmental differences between Vallecillo and the Muzquiz area. Goulmimichthys roberti occupied a wider stratigraphic range and ecosystem variety than previously known, including both pelagic and shallow shelf settings.
Item Description:Gesehen am 07.04.2020
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:0031-0182
DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2020.109607