A small assemblage of marine hybodont sharks from the Bathonian of the Jaisalmer Basin, India

摘要

We are describing a small assemblage of marine hybodont sharks from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) carbonate rocks of the Jaisalmer Basin, North-western India. The assemblage is represented by both cuspidate and crushing dental remains of the genus Planohybodus and Strophodus (previously Asteracanthus), respectively. This is the first record of Planohybodus sp., Strophodus magnus, Strophodus medius and Strophodus indicus sp. nov. from the Jurassic of India or any other Gondwanan continent. This is the most diverse Jurassic marine chondrichthyan faunal record from the Jaisalmer Basin to date. This chondrichthyan faunal record from the Bathonian of India has close affinity to the European forms. This study reveals a much wider paleogeographic distribution of hybodont sharks and corroborates their cosmopolitan presence in the Mesozoic seas. The discovery of a new species, Strophodus indicus sp. nov. from India demonstrates a greater diversity in the genus Strophodus.