Couple of two scapulae bones. Cretaceous Cenomanian Ifezouane Fm

[Juan A. Poblador]

Hi all!

 

Here I share with you a couple of jewels that I discovered a few months ago working on the yellow sandstones of the basal levels of the Ifezouane Formation (Upper Cretaceous Cenomanian of South of Morocco).

The truth is that it was a huge surprise !. These are two scapulae, right and left of the same individual. But individual of what?

 

I was astonished to recognize the absolute rarity of its characteristics. It has a very developed proximal epiphysis and with great articulation surface. Distal area is beautifully ornate! The autapomorphies are really rare !. It had been a long time since I had encountered something similar!

Now I have begun to look for bibliography on similar remains to begin the first comparisons, but it is being complicated task ....

 

I also enclosed a photo of the level at which I dug it !, fine-grained sandstones lenticularly interleaved (like patches) within gray marls.

 

Any opinions?

Thanks!

[Juan A. Poblador]

[Carl]

I think these may actually be coelacanth quadrates. That would be pretty cool!

[Fossildude19]

18 minutes ago, Carl said:

I think these may actually be coelacanth quadrates. That would be pretty cool!

 

Good call, Carl. 

This PDF has a quadrate figured that looks similar.

 

 

 

[Carl]

Nice! And I ran this by our Curator of Fossil Fishes, Dr. John Maisey and he concurs: "Yes. Probably Mawsonia. Since they were found together, the rest of the head was probably there as well."

[Fossildude19]

14 minutes ago, Carl said:

Nice! And I ran this by our Curator of Fossil Fishes, Dr. John Maisey and he concurs: "Yes. Probably Mawsonia. Since they were found together, the rest of the head was probably there as well."

 

Awesome information, Carl!  

Great finds too, Juan!  

Regards,

[Juan A. Poblador]

Great information!

 

Indeed, it seems that there is no doubt !. Thank you so much everyone!

I would never have started comparing with coelacanth remains! I never spend enough time on fossils fishes! ... but lately this fantastic Formation is giving me many surprises! ... it is much more diverse in fishes than in Dinosaurs , something really fascinating.

 

I am now comparing these two charms with that : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256422700_New_materials_of_a_Cretaceous_coelacanth_Mawsonia_lavocati_Tabaste_from_Mococco

 

Indeed, near these remains I also found a cranial box, also of fish. But it does not resemble that of the coelacanth Mawsonia. And he appeared nearby, but not exactly together. Here is the photo. It resembles the Calamopleurus africanus skull :

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0125786

 

 But it has significant differences differences.

 

I also attached a photo of what does appear to be also part of another Mawsonia. Although coming from quite higher levels, already within dark marls and clays of the Aoufous Formation.

 

Best Regards