Intraspecific variation and new morphological characters revealed by multimodal imaging analysis on the Late Cretaceous coleoid Dorateuthis syriaca
Rowe AJ, Kruta I, Villier L, Gueriau P, Radepont M, Belhadj O, Müller K, Jattiot R, Fuchs D, Clements T, Charbonnier S, Rouget I (2024)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2024
Journal
Book Volume: 69
Pages Range: 607-632
Journal Issue: 4
Abstract
The Cretaceous outcrops of Haqel, Hjoula (Cenomanian) and Sahel Aalma (Santonian) in Lebanon are renowned for their exceptional preservation of coleoid soft tissue in coeval shallow carbonate mud deposits and provide an unmatched opportunity to study many specimens of a single species, Dorateuthis syriaca. Despite being the most abundant coleoid from these localities, the taxon lacks clear, unambiguous diagnostic characteristics of both the gladius, and soft tissue anatomy. The absence of a defined character complex for the species has led to inconsistencies in the literature and the need for a reappraisal. This investigation represents the largest sample of D. syriaca studied with high-resolution, multi-imaging techniques, and has obtained a comprehensive morphological dataset of measurements on this key taxon. This has allowed us to refine some of the character states used to understand the phylogeny of coleoids. Furthermore, we have identified morphological characters that were previously undescribed for the genus, including suckers, axial nerves, and possible retractor muscles, as well as provided confirmation of the circulatory and excretory systems, and an Octobrachia-type digestive system. We also discount the presence of tentacles, tentacular pockets, and hooks within the arm crown, and we show that the species definition of D. syriaca is more complex than expected as our sample suggests intraspecific variability is present in the gladius. We strongly support the hypothesis that it was an 8-armed coleoid that was likely an active visual predator.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Sorbonne Université
France (FR)
Université de Lausanne (UNIL)
Switzerland (CH)
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN)
France (FR)
Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University / Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)
France (FR)
Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie
Germany (DE)
France (FR)
Université de Lausanne (UNIL)
Switzerland (CH)
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN)
France (FR)
Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University / Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ)
France (FR)
Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Rowe, A.J., Kruta, I., Villier, L., Gueriau, P., Radepont, M., Belhadj, O.,... Rouget, I. (2024). Intraspecific variation and new morphological characters revealed by multimodal imaging analysis on the Late Cretaceous coleoid Dorateuthis syriaca. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 69(4), 607-632. https://doi.org/10.4202/app.01160.2024
MLA:
Rowe, Alison J., et al. "Intraspecific variation and new morphological characters revealed by multimodal imaging analysis on the Late Cretaceous coleoid Dorateuthis syriaca." Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 69.4 (2024): 607-632.
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