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Megalocoelacanthus dobiei

Coelacanthimorpha - Coelacanthiformes - Latimeriidae

Taxonomy
Megalocoelacanthus dobiei was named by Schwimmer et al. (1994). Its type specimen is CCK 88-2-1, a partial skeleton, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Cowikee Creek, North Fork, which is in a Santonian/Campanian coastal horizon in the Blufftown Formation of Alabama. It is the type species of Megalocoelacanthus.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1994Megalocoelacanthus dobiei Schwimmer et al. p. 503 figs. Fig. 2-3
1998Megalocoelacanthus dobiei Forey p. 355
2004Megalocoelacanthus dobiei Schultze p. 487
2012Megalocoelacanthus dobiei Dutel et al. p. 25

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
RankNameAuthor
subclassSarcopterygii()
classCoelacanthimorpha
orderCoelacanthiformesBerg 1937
familyLatimeriidaeBerg 1940
subfamilyLatimeriinaeBerg 1940
genusMegalocoelacanthus
speciesdobiei

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Megalocoelacanthus dobiei Schwimmer et al. 1994
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
H. Dutel et al. 2012Parietonasal shield narrow, and longer than the posparietal shield. Supraorbital sensory line canal opening through a large groove crossed by slender pillars. Ventral descending processes present on the supratemporal and on the parietal. Basisphenoid very deep dorsoventrally. Palatoquadrate deeper than long, with distinct swelling extending from the ventral pterygoid margin immediately anterior to the quadrate. Mandibles relatively elongate posterior to the articular; articular sutured to the angular. Medial surfaces of the prearticular, palatoquadrate, and coronoid covered with tubercular shagreen. No marginal teeth on the mandible. Coronoid large, with subcircular ventral margin. Lateral surface of angular bears large pores of the sensory line canal and very faint longitudinal grooves on its posterior portion. Gular and operculum lack external ornamentation. Operculum subrhomboidal, with sharply angled anteroventral margin. Gular plates diverge strongly along posterior midline.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinesubp
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Created: 2009-07-20 21:50:54
Modified: 2009-07-20 23:50:54
Source: c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988

Age range: base of the Late/Upper Santonian to the top of the Middle Campanian or 85.80000 to 70.60000 Ma

Collections (5 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Santonian86.3 - 83.6USA (Alabama) Megalocoelacanthus dobiei (87057)
Late/Upper Santonian85.8 - 83.5USA (Kansas) Megalocoelacanthus dobiei (206749)
Late/Upper Santonian - Middle Campanian85.8 - 70.6USA (Alabama) Megalocoelacanthus dobiei (type locality: 87056)
Late/Upper Santonian - Middle Campanian85.8 - 70.6USA (Georgia) Megalocoelacanthus dobiei (35289)
Maastrichtian72.1 - 66.0USA (New Jersey) Megalocoelacanthus dobiei (57915)