Australopristis

<i>Australopristis</i>

Australopristis

Extinct sawfish genus

Australopristis is an extinct genus of rajiform ray from the late Cretaceous epoch.[1] Its name is derived from the Latin for "southern" and the Greek for "saw". It is known from a single species, A. wiffeni named for the late prominent fossil hunter Joan Wiffen. This species is currently known only from rostral teeth found at Mangahouanga stream and East Wing, Haumuri bluff, New Zealand. Its rostral teeth possess a smooth root which makes it unique among Sclerorhynchids. Rostral teeth appear to vary in morphology according to position and ontogenetic stage. Unlike the related Onchopristis and Atlanticopristis, it lives in a marine rather than fluvial environment and likely preferred cooler waters.[2]

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References

  1. [1]
    "Fossilsawfish.com". Fossilsawfish.com. Retrieved 2020-09-21.
  2. [2]
    Martill, David M.; Ibrahim, Nizar (2012-02-14). "Aberrant rostral teeth of the sawfish Onchopristis numidus from the Kem Kem beds (?early Late Cretaceous) of Morocco and a reappraisal of Onchopristis in New Zealand". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 64: 71–76. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2011.11.009. ISSN 1464-343X.


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