Abstract
Abstract. Mennerotodus Zhelezko, 1994, is an extinct lamniform shark known to occur in Paleogene strata of the Tethyan region of Asia and Europe. Although only a single species has been named, multiple subspecies have been erected and used as biostratigraphic tools in Asia. The genus has not been reported with confidence outside of the Tethyan region, but we have identified two new species of Mennerotodus from Paleogene deposits of the southeastern United States. Mennerotodus mackayi sp. nov. is described by teeth occurring in the lower Paleocene (Danian Stage) Pine Barren Member of the Clayton Formation of southern Alabama. A middle Eocene (Bartonian) species, Mennerotodus parmleyi sp. nov., is based on material occurring in the Clinchfield Formation in central Georgia. The early Paleocene record could indicate a North American origin for Mennerotodus relatively soon after the K–Pg event, with subsequent radiation to other parts of the world. The genus is likely more widely distributed than is currently known, but teeth can easily be overlooked due to their similarity to other taxa.
Highlights
Mennerotodus Zhelezko, 1994, is an extinct odontaspidid shark that was originally named based on middle Eocene (Bartonian) teeth from Kazakhstan
Mennerotodus teeth from the Gosport Sand in Alabama are part of the Alabama Museum of Natural History (ALMNH) collections in Tuscaloosa, USA, and additional specimens from the Clayton Formation in Alabama are housed at Museum of Natural Science (MMNS), McWane Science Center (MSC), and SC
We found that Mennerotodus mackayi sp. nov. and M. parmleyi sp. nov. are not restricted to their respective type localities or type strata
Summary
Mennerotodus Zhelezko, 1994, is an extinct odontaspidid shark that was originally named based on middle Eocene (Bartonian) teeth from Kazakhstan. Zhelezko (1994) erected three species of Mennerotodus, but only the type species, M. glueckmani Zhelezko, 1994, is currently recognized (Cappetta, 2012). Within this species, Zhelezko (1994) named three subspecies, including M. g. Usunbassi was in the upper Shorym Formation (Bartonian; Zhelezko, 1994). There was an intent to utilize the subspecies as biostratigraphic tools, as the type stratum for M. g. boktensis is the middle Eocene (Lutetian) Amankisilit Formation, M. g. glueckmani is from the lower Shorym Formation (Bartonian), and M. g. usunbassi was in the upper Shorym Formation (Bartonian; Zhelezko, 1994). Cappetta (2012) reported the temporal distribution as late Paleocene (Thanetian) to late Eocene (Priabonian)
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