A NEW GIANT SPECIES OF EDAPHODON (HOLOCEPHALI: EDAPHODONTIDAE) FROM THE BERYOZOVAYA BEDS (LOWER PALEOCENE) OF THE VOLGOGRAD VOLGA REGION

Abstract

A new species of giant chimaeroid Edaphodon eolucifer sp. nov. (family Edaphodontidae) from the basal horizon of the Beryozovaya Beds (Lower Paleocene, Danian) is described based on the lower jaw (“mandibular”), and anterior maxillary (“vomerine”) dental plates hypothetically associated with the former. Accompanying assemblage of elasmobranch fish remains and invertebrates indicates that the remains of a newly described species were redeposited at the base of Paleocene from the Maastrichtian. Trends of morphological evolution of Edaphodon lower jaw dental plates during the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene are discussed.