Jump to content

Maliamia: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
added taxon bar
 
(12 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Extinct genus of amiid fishs}}
{{Short description|Extinct genus of ray-finned fishes}}
{{Speciesbox

| fossil_range = [[Eocene]] ([[Ypresian]]) {{Fossil range|56.0|47.8|}}
{{Taxobox
| display_parents = 2
| name = [[Maliamia]]
| genus = Maliamia
| regnum = [[Animalia]]
| parent_authority = Patterson and Longbottom, 1989
| phylum = [[Chordata]]
| species = gigas
| classis = [[Actinopterygii]]
| authority = Patterson and Longbottom, 1989
| ordo = [[Amiiformes]]
| familia = [[Amiidae]]
| genus = {{extinct}}''Maliamia''
| species = {{extinct}}''M. gigas''
| binomial = {{extinct}}''Maliamia gigas''
| binomial_authority = Patterson and Longbottom, 1989
| fossil_range = [[Eocene]] ([[Ypresian]]) {{Fossil range|56.0|47.8|}}
| subfamilia = {{extinct}}[[Vidalamiinae]]
}}
}}


'''Maliamia''' ("Malian [[bowfin]]") is an extinct genus of [[Amiidae|amiid]] [[Ray finned fish|ray-finned fish]] from the Early [[Eocene]], known from fragmentary remains found in the [[List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Mali|Tamaguélelt Formation]] of [[Mali]]. It was described in 1989, based on fossils recovered by three separate expeditions in 1975, 1979-80, and 1981. The [[type species]] is ''Maliamia gigas,'' named in reference to its large size.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Patterson |first=C |last2=Longbottom |first2=A. E. |date=1989-12-27 |title=An Eocene Amiid Fish from Mali, West Africa |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1445965 |journal=Copeia |volume=1989 |issue=4 |pages=827 |doi=10.2307/1445965 |issn=0045-8511}}</ref>
'''''Maliamia''''' ("Malian [[bowfin]]") is an extinct genus of [[Amiidae|amiid]] [[ray-finned fish]] from the Early [[Eocene]], known from fragmentary remains found in the [[List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Mali|Tamaguélelt Formation]] of [[Mali]]. It was described in 1989, based on fossils recovered by three separate expeditions in 1975, 1979–80, and 1981. The [[type species]] is ''Maliamia gigas,'' named in reference to its large size.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Patterson |first1=C |last2=Longbottom |first2=A. E. |date=1989-12-27 |title=An Eocene Amiid Fish from Mali, West Africa |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1445965 |journal=Copeia |volume=1989 |issue=4 |pages=827 |doi=10.2307/1445965 |jstor=1445965 |issn=0045-8511}}</ref>


Maliamia is currently the youngest known member of [[Vidalamiinae]], an extinct group of bowfin fish that lived from the [[Early Cretaceous]] to the Early Eocene.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grande |first=G |last2=Bemis |first2=E |date=2014 |title=A comprehensive phylogenetic study of amiid fishes (Amiidae) based on comparative skeletal anatomy. An empirical search for interconnected patterns of natural history. (project) |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/p482 |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=MorphoBank datasets}}</ref>
''Maliamia'' is currently the youngest known member of [[Vidalamiinae]], an extinct group of bowfin fish that lived from the [[Early Cretaceous]] to the Early Eocene.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grande |first1=G |last2=Bemis |first2=E |date=2014 |title=A comprehensive phylogenetic study of amiid fishes (Amiidae) based on comparative skeletal anatomy. An empirical search for interconnected patterns of natural history. (project) |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7934/p482 |access-date=2022-05-07 |website=MorphoBank datasets|doi=10.7934/p482 }}</ref>


== Description ==
== Description ==
''M. gigas'' is known from isolated jaw remains including [[Premaxilla|premaxillae]], [[Vomer|vomers]], [[Maxilla|maxillae]], and [[dentaries]]. These fragments lack teeth due to post-mortem wear, but empty tooth sockets remain, and their arrangement implies that ''M. gigas'' had a single row of teeth. <ref name=":0" />
''Maliamia gigas'' is known from isolated jaw remains including [[premaxilla]]e, [[vomer]]s, [[maxilla]]e, and [[dentaries]]. These fragments lack teeth due to post-mortem wear, but empty tooth sockets remain, and their arrangement implies that ''M. gigas'' had a single row of teeth.<ref name=":0" />


Estimates put the body length of ''M. gigas'' between 1.8 and 3.5 meters, making it the largest known member of Vidalamiinae.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=O'Leary |last2=Bouaré |last3=Claeson |last4=Heilbronn |last5=Hill |last6=McCartney |last7=Sessa |last8=Sissoko |last9=Tapanila |last10=Wheeler |last11=Roberts |date=June 28, 2019 |title=Stratigraphy and Paleobiology of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene Sediments from the Trans-Saharan Seaway in Mali |url=https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/6950 |journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History}}</ref>
Estimates put the body length of ''M. gigas'' between 1.8 (based on ''[[Calamopleurus]]'') and 3.5 meters (based on ''[[Amia (fish)|Amia]]''), making it the largest known member of Vidalamiinae.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=O'Leary |last2=Bouaré |last3=Claeson |last4=Heilbronn |last5=Hill |last6=McCartney |last7=Sessa |last8=Sissoko |last9=Tapanila |last10=Wheeler |last11=Roberts |date=June 28, 2019 |title=Stratigraphy and Paleobiology of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene Sediments from the Trans-Saharan Seaway in Mali |url=https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/6950 |journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History|volume=2019 |issue=436 |page=1 |doi=10.1206/0003-0090.436.1.1 |hdl=2246/6950 |s2cid=198398386 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grande |first1=Lance |last2=Bemis |first2=William E. |date=1998-04-10 |title=A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Study of Amiid Fishes (Amiidae) Based on Comparative Skeletal Anatomy. an Empirical Search for Interconnected Patterns of Natural History |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.1998.10011114 |journal=Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume=18 |issue=sup1 |pages=1–696 |doi=10.1080/02724634.1998.10011114 |bibcode=1998JVPal..18S...1G |issn=0272-4634}}</ref>


== Paleoenvironment ==
== Paleoenvironment ==
Fossils of ''Maliamia'' are known from shallow marine [[Phosphorite|phosphorites]]. During the Eocene, much of northwest [[Africa]] was covered by the [[Trans-Saharan Seaway]], an inland sea estimated to have been approximately 50 meters deep. Global temperatures and the sea level were higher than they are today, and Maliamia lived in warm, tropical waters. Other fishes from its environment included ''[[Pycnodus|Pycnodus jonesae]], [[Lavocatodus|Lavocatodus giganteus]], [[Myliobatis|Myliobatis wurnoensis]], [[Stratodus|Stratodus apicalis]], [[Nigerium tamaguelense]],'' and ''[[Brychaetus|Brychaetus sp]].'' Additionally, it shared its environment with reptiles such as the giant [[Marine biology|marine]] [[snake]] [[Palaeophis|Palaeophis colossaeus]] which was, like ''Maliamia,'' among the biggest species in its [[clade]]. As sea levels rose and fell throughout the [[Late Cretaceous]] and early [[Paleogene]], the Trans-Saharan Seaway of Mali experienced intermittent isolation from major seas, which may have made the ecosystem an aquatic center for [[endemism]] where organisms like ''Maliamia'' and ''Palaeophis'' were selected for gigantism.<ref name=":1" />
Fossils of ''Maliamia'' are known from shallow marine [[phosphorite]]s. During the Eocene, much of northwest [[Africa]] was covered by the [[Trans-Saharan Seaway]], an inland sea estimated to have been approximately 50 meters deep. Global temperatures and the sea level were higher than they are today, and Maliamia lived in warm, tropical waters. Other fishes from its environment included ''[[Pycnodus|Pycnodus jonesae]]'', ''[[Lavocatodus|Lavocatodus giganteus]]'', ''[[Myliobatis|Myliobatis wurnoensis]]'', ''[[Stratodus|Stratodus apicalis]]'', ''[[Nigerium tamaguelense]],'' and ''[[Brychaetus|Brychaetus sp]]''. Additionally, it shared its environment with reptiles such as the giant [[Marine biology|marine]] [[snake]] ''[[Palaeophis|Palaeophis colossaeus]]'' which was, like ''Maliamia,'' among the biggest species in its [[clade]]. As sea levels rose and fell throughout the [[Late Cretaceous]] and early [[Paleogene]], the Trans-Saharan Seaway of Mali experienced intermittent isolation from major seas, which may have made the ecosystem an aquatic center for [[endemism]] where organisms like ''Maliamia'' and ''Palaeophis'' were selected for gigantism.<ref name=":1" />


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}


{{reflist}}
{{Halecomorphi}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q112108977}}

{{Actinopterygii}}
{{Halecomorphi|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q491934}}


[[Category:Amioidea|†]]
[[Category:Fossils of Mali]]
[[Category:Fossils of Mali]]
[[Category:Amiiformes]]
[[Category:Fossils of Africa]]
[[Category:Fossils of Africa]]
[[Category:Eocene Africa]]
[[Category:Eocene Africa]]
Line 44: Line 35:
[[Category:Paleogene fish]]
[[Category:Paleogene fish]]
[[Category:Paleogene Africa]]
[[Category:Paleogene Africa]]
[[Category:Prehistoric ray-finned fish genera]]

Latest revision as of 00:06, 29 November 2024

Maliamia
Temporal range: Eocene (Ypresian)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Clade: Halecomorphi
Order: Amiiformes
Family: Amiidae
Subfamily: Vidalamiinae
Genus: Maliamia
Patterson and Longbottom, 1989
Species:
M. gigas
Binomial name
Maliamia gigas
Patterson and Longbottom, 1989

Maliamia ("Malian bowfin") is an extinct genus of amiid ray-finned fish from the Early Eocene, known from fragmentary remains found in the Tamaguélelt Formation of Mali. It was described in 1989, based on fossils recovered by three separate expeditions in 1975, 1979–80, and 1981. The type species is Maliamia gigas, named in reference to its large size.[1]

Maliamia is currently the youngest known member of Vidalamiinae, an extinct group of bowfin fish that lived from the Early Cretaceous to the Early Eocene.[2]

Description

[edit]

Maliamia gigas is known from isolated jaw remains including premaxillae, vomers, maxillae, and dentaries. These fragments lack teeth due to post-mortem wear, but empty tooth sockets remain, and their arrangement implies that M. gigas had a single row of teeth.[1]

Estimates put the body length of M. gigas between 1.8 (based on Calamopleurus) and 3.5 meters (based on Amia), making it the largest known member of Vidalamiinae.[3][4]

Paleoenvironment

[edit]

Fossils of Maliamia are known from shallow marine phosphorites. During the Eocene, much of northwest Africa was covered by the Trans-Saharan Seaway, an inland sea estimated to have been approximately 50 meters deep. Global temperatures and the sea level were higher than they are today, and Maliamia lived in warm, tropical waters. Other fishes from its environment included Pycnodus jonesae, Lavocatodus giganteus, Myliobatis wurnoensis, Stratodus apicalis, Nigerium tamaguelense, and Brychaetus sp. Additionally, it shared its environment with reptiles such as the giant marine snake Palaeophis colossaeus which was, like Maliamia, among the biggest species in its clade. As sea levels rose and fell throughout the Late Cretaceous and early Paleogene, the Trans-Saharan Seaway of Mali experienced intermittent isolation from major seas, which may have made the ecosystem an aquatic center for endemism where organisms like Maliamia and Palaeophis were selected for gigantism.[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Patterson, C; Longbottom, A. E. (1989-12-27). "An Eocene Amiid Fish from Mali, West Africa". Copeia. 1989 (4): 827. doi:10.2307/1445965. ISSN 0045-8511. JSTOR 1445965.
  2. ^ Grande, G; Bemis, E (2014). "A comprehensive phylogenetic study of amiid fishes (Amiidae) based on comparative skeletal anatomy. An empirical search for interconnected patterns of natural history. (project)". MorphoBank datasets. doi:10.7934/p482. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  3. ^ a b O'Leary; Bouaré; Claeson; Heilbronn; Hill; McCartney; Sessa; Sissoko; Tapanila; Wheeler; Roberts (June 28, 2019). "Stratigraphy and Paleobiology of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene Sediments from the Trans-Saharan Seaway in Mali". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 2019 (436): 1. doi:10.1206/0003-0090.436.1.1. hdl:2246/6950. S2CID 198398386.
  4. ^ Grande, Lance; Bemis, William E. (1998-04-10). "A Comprehensive Phylogenetic Study of Amiid Fishes (Amiidae) Based on Comparative Skeletal Anatomy. an Empirical Search for Interconnected Patterns of Natural History". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 18 (sup1): 1–696. Bibcode:1998JVPal..18S...1G. doi:10.1080/02724634.1998.10011114. ISSN 0272-4634.