Paleoecological inferences on the fish assemblage of the Açu Formation (?Aptian–Cenomanian), Potiguar Basin, NE Brazil: a multiproxy approach

Abstract

Paleoecological studies have been largely explored in the last decades, providing important data regarding, among other features, the feeding behavior and living environments of extinct taxa. The fish assemblage of the Açu Formation (?Aptian–Cenomanian), Potiguar Basin, has been recently discovered and described, but ecological inferences have not been made. Here, we analyze the known taxa through a multiproxy approach in order to characterize their autecology as well as provide interpretations of these data in the context of the unit. We conclude that the fishes from the Açu Formation were mainly generalists regarding feeding behavior and swimming adaptations, living in different portions of the estuarine system previously inferred for the locality. Comparisons with Western Gondwana units of similar age hint at a great paleontological potential for the unit. The study also highlights the importance of multiproxy approaches in paleoecological studies and the need of a major review on the ecological terminology used.