Middle-Late Triassic chondrichthyans remains from the Betic Range (Spain)

Purpose: In the present study, we described, for first time, the chondrichthyan fauna from several Middle-Late Triassic sections in the Betic Domain and compare it with other recent described coeval faunas from the Iberian Ranges. Methods: Specimens were retrieved after the dissolution (with 10% acetic acid) of carbonate rocks. Results: The assemblage comprises of seven species belonging to six genera (Hybodus plicatilis, Omanoselache bucheri comb. nov., Omanoselache contrarius comb. nov., Lonchidion derenzii, Lissodus aff. L. lepagei, Pseudodalatias henarejensis and cf. Rhomaleodus budurovi), most of them non-nesoselachian. Chondrichthyans remains occur in levels dating from Ladinian to Carnian according with bivalves, ammonoids and conodonts. Conclusions: The findings are comparable, in taxonomical terms, to the chondrichthyan fauna from the Ladinian of the Iberian Range that was recently described, although chondrichthyans seems noticeably less abundant in the Betic Domain. Most of the species found occur also in the Iberian Range, with the exception of Lonchidion derenzii and cf Rhomaleodus budurovi, which occur in the Boyar Section, dated as Carnian. The small size of all teeth recovered, belonging probably to young specimens, suggest that the very shallow epicontinental environments recorded in Middle-Upper Triassic rocks from the Betic Domain could be used as nursery areas.