Carcharopsis wortheni from the Fayetteville Formation (Mississippian) of Arkansas
Richard Lund, and Royal H. Mapes
Adelphi Univ., Biol. Dep., Garden City, NY, United States
Ohio Univ., United States
The jaws, teeth and buccopharyngeal denticles, as well as an isolated tooth, of Carcharopsis wortheni Newberry and Worthen were recovered from the Fayetteville Formation of Arkansas. The synonymy of the genus is reviewed. The jaws reveal an ethmoid and postorbital articulation of the palatoquadrate (amphistylic suspension) and an elevated articular region of the lower jaw. The serrate-edged teeth are generally proportionately narrower at their widest than the British Carboniferous tooth species. Mucous membrane denticles are of three morphotypes and show growth by accretion. It is suggested that there may only be two British Carboniferous species, in view of the variability present in single dentitions. The length of C. wortheni is estimated at about 3 meters.--Modified journal abstract.
This record provided courtesy of AGI/GeoRef.
