A new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).

<h4>Background</h4>Equipped with an effective predatory feeding mechanism enhanced by large and sharp teeth, pointed snout and elongate body, saurichthyiform fishes are considered common fish-eaters in the early Mesozoic aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, because of the similar body plan...

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Autores principales:	Feixiang Wu, Mee-mann Chang, Yuanlin Sun, Guanghui Xu
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/535366e8d9904a1a9018eb4928fb44dd
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:535366e8d9904a1a9018eb4928fb44dd2021-11-18T08:43:34ZA new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).1932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0081010https://doaj.org/article/535366e8d9904a1a9018eb4928fb44dd2013-01-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/24324657/?tool=EBIhttps://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203<h4>Background</h4>Equipped with an effective predatory feeding mechanism enhanced by large and sharp teeth, pointed snout and elongate body, saurichthyiform fishes are considered common fish-eaters in the early Mesozoic aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, because of the similar body plan across species, saurichthyiforms are also regarded evolutionally conservative, with few morphological and ecological changes during their long history. However, their phylogenetic affinity remains unclear as to whether they are chondrostean, neopterygian or stem-actinopteran, and likewise the intrarelationships of the group have rarely been explored.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Here we report a new saurichthyiform from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou, China, based on the well-preserved specimens including a 3-D braincase. The new taxon, Yelangichthys macrocephalus gen. et sp. nov., is unique among saurichthyiforms in having a peculiar neurocranium with a broad orbital tectum, paired posterior myodomes, a deep, transverse fossa in the posterodorsal part of the orbit, and a feeding mechanism structured for durophagy. Phylogenetic analysis places Yelangichthys gen. nov. at the most basal position in the Saurichthyiformes as the sister to Saurichthyidae, and a new family Yelangichthyidae is erected to include only Y. macrocephalus gen. et sp. nov. The monophyly of the Chondrostei comprising [Saurichthyiformes + Acipenseriformes] Birgeriiformes is supported, but not the monophyly of Saurichthys, the type genus of Saurichthyidae. With its outstanding osteological details, Yelangichthys gen. nov. greatly increases the neurocranial variations in saurichthyiforms, and its novel feeding structure suggests the consumption of hard-preys instead of fishes.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>Our findings highlight the detailed osteology of a saurichthyiform braincase and its feeding design. We suggest that saurichthyiforms are closely allied to the Acipenseriformes. Saurichthyiforms were very diverse in the cranial osteology and they might have undergone a rapid evolutionary radiation via, for the new material here, transforming the feeding mechanism and thus exploiting the food resources unsuitable for other saurichthyiforms.Feixiang WuMee-mann ChangYuanlin SunGuanghui XuPublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRScienceQENPLoS ONE, Vol 8, Iss 12, p e81010 (2013)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Feixiang Wu Mee-mann Chang Yuanlin Sun Guanghui Xu A new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).
description	<h4>Background</h4>Equipped with an effective predatory feeding mechanism enhanced by large and sharp teeth, pointed snout and elongate body, saurichthyiform fishes are considered common fish-eaters in the early Mesozoic aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, because of the similar body plan across species, saurichthyiforms are also regarded evolutionally conservative, with few morphological and ecological changes during their long history. However, their phylogenetic affinity remains unclear as to whether they are chondrostean, neopterygian or stem-actinopteran, and likewise the intrarelationships of the group have rarely been explored.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>Here we report a new saurichthyiform from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou, China, based on the well-preserved specimens including a 3-D braincase. The new taxon, Yelangichthys macrocephalus gen. et sp. nov., is unique among saurichthyiforms in having a peculiar neurocranium with a broad orbital tectum, paired posterior myodomes, a deep, transverse fossa in the posterodorsal part of the orbit, and a feeding mechanism structured for durophagy. Phylogenetic analysis places Yelangichthys gen. nov. at the most basal position in the Saurichthyiformes as the sister to Saurichthyidae, and a new family Yelangichthyidae is erected to include only Y. macrocephalus gen. et sp. nov. The monophyly of the Chondrostei comprising [Saurichthyiformes + Acipenseriformes] Birgeriiformes is supported, but not the monophyly of Saurichthys, the type genus of Saurichthyidae. With its outstanding osteological details, Yelangichthys gen. nov. greatly increases the neurocranial variations in saurichthyiforms, and its novel feeding structure suggests the consumption of hard-preys instead of fishes.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>Our findings highlight the detailed osteology of a saurichthyiform braincase and its feeding design. We suggest that saurichthyiforms are closely allied to the Acipenseriformes. Saurichthyiforms were very diverse in the cranial osteology and they might have undergone a rapid evolutionary radiation via, for the new material here, transforming the feeding mechanism and thus exploiting the food resources unsuitable for other saurichthyiforms.
format	article
author	Feixiang Wu Mee-mann Chang Yuanlin Sun Guanghui Xu
author_facet	Feixiang Wu Mee-mann Chang Yuanlin Sun Guanghui Xu
author_sort	Feixiang Wu
title	A new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).
title_short	A new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).
title_full	A new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).
title_fullStr	A new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).
title_full_unstemmed	A new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).
title_sort	new saurichthyiform (actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the middle triassic of guizhou (china).
publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
publishDate	2013
url	https://doaj.org/article/535366e8d9904a1a9018eb4928fb44dd
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A new saurichthyiform (Actinopterygii) with a crushing feeding mechanism from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou (China).

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