MIDDLE EOCENE CHONDRICHTHYAN FAUNA FROM ANTARCTIC PENINSULA HOUSED IN THE MUSEO DE LA PLATA, ARGENTINA

CHARNELLI, MARTINA; GOUIRIC CAVALLI, S.; REGUERO, MARCELO; ALBERTO LUIS CIONE

Advances in Polar Sciences

Polar Research Institute of China Chinese Society for Oceanography

Año: 2024

1674-9928

In this study, we analyze the diversity of chondrichthyan fossils, which include sharks, rays, and chimaeras, from the Cucullaea I allomember of La Meseta formation on Seymour Island (Isla Seymour) in Antarctica. These fossils are housed in the Museo de La Plata. These specimens, primarily shark teeth and dental plates, were collected during Antarctic expeditions conducted from 1977 to 2015. The formations in question are already known for their rich diversity of chondrichthyans, with the Cucullaea I allomember of the La Meseta Formation particularly notable for its abundance of fossils. The extensive collection stored at the Museo de La Plata makes a significant quantitative contribution to the study of this well-researched fauna. These data could help us better understand the sudden decline in chondrichthyan presence between the two formations and its potential connection to environmental changes during the Eocene. In conclusion, this study establishes a robust database that will be immensely valuable for future research in the field of paleoecology