Carcharhinus cf. ambionensis ( Müller & Henle, 1839 )

Hovestadt, Dirk C. & Da Silva, Carlos M., 2025, A new chondrichthyan (Sharks and Rays) Fossil Assemblage from the Miocene Cacela Fm. at Albufeira (Algarve, Portugal) with two new species: Palaeoecology and Biogeography, Zootaxa 5724 (1), pp. 1-66 : 24-25

Carcharhinus cf. ambionensis ( Müller & Henle, 1839)

Plate 4, Figs 47–59

cf. * Carcharias ( Prionodon) ambionensis Müller & Henle 1839: 40 , pl. 19.

Material. 18 isolated teeth. NHMW 2025 /0177/0002 ( 13 specimens) .

Description. The dentition of the extant successor Carcharhinus ambionensis ( Müller & Henle, 1838) was illustrated by Bass et al. (1973: 158, pl. 8) that is used to identify the fossil remains. The upper teeth ( Pl. 4, figs 47–50) possess a principal cusp that is more or less triangularly shaped but curved distally. The mesial and distal cutting edges have a coarse serration. The root is divided into two root lobes by a shallow median groove diverging at an angle of 120° that widens in teeth closer towards the commissure. The lower teeth ( Pl. 4, figs 51–59) possess a relatively broad-based principal cusp that is constricted just above the base with a mesial and distal extension of the cutting edges and mesial and distal serrations. The root is divided into two root lobes, that diverge at an angle of approximately 140°.

Discussion. The extant successor of this species lives in shallow epipelagic waters ( 0– 60m.) and occurs in the Indo-West Pacific, South Africa to Australia, and East Atlantic, Nigeria (Ebert et al. 2013).

Distribution. Indopacific, South Africa to Australia, and East Atlantic, Nigeria, continental and insular shelves ( Ebert et al. 2016).

Distribution in Portugal. Upper Miocene: (Tortonian) Algarve Basin, Cacela Fm. (this paper).