Otodus (Carcharocles)

Zouhri, Samir, Gingerich, Philip D., Khalloufi, Bouziane, Bourdon, Estelle, Adnet, Sylvain, Jouve, Stéphane, Elboudali, Najia, Amane, Ayoub, Rage, Jean-Claude & Tabuce, Rodolphe, 2021, Middle Eocene vertebrate fauna from the Aridal Formation, Sabkha of Gueran, southwestern Morocco, Geodiversitas 43 (5), pp. 121-150 : 125

Otodus (Carcharocles) sp.

EXAMINED MATERIAL. — A dozen isolated teeth, figured material includes FSAC Bouj-323.

DESCRIPTION

Teeth are some smaller than those of previous species and up to 5 cm in height ( Fig. 2D, E ). Compared to Otodus (Carcharocles) cf. sokolowi , teeth of this second species display a flatter root with subrectangular basal extremities of lobes, a more slender cusp with finer serrations and two cusplets which are smaller and lower than in other coeval species.

REMARKS

These characters are different from the coeval small megatoothed shark species Otodus (Carcharocles) auriculatus , commonly reported in worldwide middle Eocene deposits (e.g., Ward & Wiest 1990; Dutheil 1991; Long 1992; Cappetta & Stringer 2002, Cappetta & Case 2016). Similar otodontid morphology is observed in the Lutetian material of Togo (Pers. Observ.) where co-occurrence of two representatives of megatoothed sharks is also noticed.

Figures

FIG. 2. — Elasmobranchii Lamniformes teeth remains from Sabkha of Gueran collected around Archaeocete whale carcasses: A-C, Otodus (Carcharocles) cf. sokolowi: A, FSAC Bouj-320 lateral upper tooth in (A1) labial and (A2) lingual views; B, FSAC Bouj-321 anterior lower tooth in labial view; C, FSAC Bouj-322 lateral lower tooth in labial view; D, E, Otodus (Carcharocles) sp.: D, FSAC Bouj-323 antero-lateral tooth in (D1) labial and (D2) lingual views; E, FSAC Bouj-324 lateral tooth (E1) labial and (E2) lingual views; F, G, “Carcharias” koerti; F, FSAC Bouj-325 anterolateral upper tooth in (F1) labial and (F2) lingual views; G, FSAC Bouj-326 anterior tooth of juvenile (G1) labial and (G2) lingual views; H-K, Macrorhizodus praecursor: H, FSAC Bouj-327 anterior lower tooth (H1) labial and (H2) lingual views; I, FSAC Bouj-328 anterior upper tooth in (I1) labial and (I2) lingual views; J, FSAC Bouj-329 lateral upper tooth in (J1) labial and (J2) lingual views; K, FSAC Bouj-330 lateral lower tooth (K1) labial and (K2) lingual views. Scale bars: 10 mm.