Original paper
Locomotion and feeding in Mesozoic durophagous fishes
Böss, H.-P.
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen Band 164 Heft 1-2 (1982), p. 167 - 171
1 references
published: Dec 22, 1982
DOI: 10.1127/njgpa/164/1982/167
ArtNo. ESP155016401039, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
In order to reconstruct the locomotory patterns of fossil fishes it is necessary to first understand the functional morphology of the body form, arrangement of the fins, aspects of the dermal skeleton such as scale types and patterns and finally the vertebral morphology. The only study published so far is that of Lund (1967). From the genera discussed below he mentions only Gyronchus. In teleosts, the thin squamation, which allows considerable lateral movement, as well as the ossified vertebrae (for stabilizing muscle operation and resisting deformation and deflections caused by locomotion within a fluid) permitted a wide variety of locomotory methods. In contrast, ganoid scales are arranged in oblique scale rows, which articulate with one another. The squamation pattern of ganoid fishes does not allow the freedom of movement found in teleosts. Furthermore, the cartilaginous vertebral column does not give the degree of stability as ossified vertebrae (in many sharks that use oscillating tail movements, the vertebrae are highly calcified). Cartilaginous vertebrae are usually associated with low amplitude axial movements which produce slower speeds than are found in most teleosts.
Keywords
fossil fishes • fins • dermal skeleton • vertebral morphology • teleosts • squamation • sharks