New data on maastrichtian fishes of the ‘Hațeg Island’

  • Nicolae Trif Natural History Museum, Brukenthal National Museum, Sibiu, Romania
  • Vlad A. Codrea Laboratory of Paleotheriology and Quaternary Geology, Department of Geology, Faculty of Biology-Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Romania http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3992-955X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/GABP220424001T
Keywords: latest Cretaceous; vertebrates; Lonchidiidae; fish teeth; Romania

Abstract

Some discoveries from the continental deposits of the paleogeographic landmass named the ‘Hațeg Island’ complete the fossil record of the Maastrichtian fish fauna of Europe. Teeth belonging to the Lonchidiidae and three morphotypes of Teleostei indet. are reported herein, from the uppermost Cretaceous continental formations cropping out in the Hațeg and Transylva - nian sedimentary basins of Romania. These fishes document a terrestrial realm, where various aquatic environments occurred ca. 70 Ma ago, immediately after the ‘Laramian’ (latest Cretaceous) tectonic pulse. It is important to note the presence of a brackish water shark, reported for the first time in the Maastrichtian deposits of Romania. This advance in research argues for a higher Cretaceous fish diversity in Transylvania than previously suggested. Therefore, the ecology of the ancient vertebrate communities is better documented with elements unknown so far.

Published
2022-07-11
How to Cite
Trif, N. and Codrea, V. (2022) “New data on maastrichtian fishes of the ‘Hațeg Island’”, Geološki anali Balkanskoga poluostrva, 83(1), pp. 1-12. doi: 10.2298/GABP220424001T.
Issue
Vol 83 No 1 (2022): Geološki anali Balkanskoga poluostrva
Section
Original Scientific Paper

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