Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879 )

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 : 10

Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879)

Plate 1, Figs 1–2

* Oxyrhina exigua Probst 1879: 135 , pl. 2, figs 20–25.

Vulpecula ( Alopecias) exigua (Probst) — Zbyszewski & Almeida 1950: 337, pl. 2, fig. 49.

Vulpecula exigua (Probst) — Serralheiro 1954: 54, pl. 1, figs 25–27.

Alopecias exigua ( Probst, 1879) — Schultz 1968: 85, pl. 4, figs 52–56.

Alopias cf. superciliosus (Lowe, 1840) — Antunes & Jonet 1970: 150, pl. 7, figs 23, 25, pl. 8, figs 28–29, 40–41. Alopias superciliosus (Löwe, 1840) — Case 1980: 83, figs 1–5.

Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879) — Cappetta 1987; 105.

Alopias aff. superciliosus — Kent 1994: text-fig. 10, 12C.

Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879) — Müller 1999: 42, pl. 9, fig. 14.

Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879) — Reinecke et al. 2011: 45, text-fig. 16, pl. 43, fig. 3, pls. 44–46.

Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879) — Cappetta 2012: 242.

Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879) — Schultz 2013: 38, pl. 4, fig. 15.

Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879) —Pollerspöck & Baeury 2014: 28, pl. 1, fig. 1.

Material. Three teeth. NHMW 2025 /0177/0015 ( 2 specimens) .

Description. One of the specimens illustrated ( Pl. 1, fig. 1) is a lower lateral tooth, given its narrow, relatively high inclined principal cusp. The root possesses two wide root lobes that diverge at an angle of approximately 100°. The other ( Pl. 1, fig. 2) is an upper lateral tooth with a more or less triangularly shaped, distally inclined principal cusp and concave mesial and distal cutting edges. Its root is divided into two root lobes by a shallow median groove that diverge at an angle of approximately 120°.

Discussion. Since 1999, there is a general acceptance of the name Alopias exigua ( Probst, 1879) for this taxon. Following discussions in the works of various authors, including Zbyszewski & Almeida (1950), Serralheiro (1954), Schulz (1968), Antunes & Jonet (1970), Case (1980), Capetta (1987) finally concluded that teeth with this morphology belonged to Alopias exigua . Subsequent authors adopted this assignment. Therefore, it is accepted here too.

Distribution. Oligocene to Pliocene. Oligocene: North Carolina, USA ( Müller, 1999), North Sea ( Cappetta 1987). Miocene: North Carolina, USA ( Müller, 1999), North Sea (Pollerspöck & Baeury 2014); Paratethys (Schultz 1969, 2013), Proto-Mediterranean, Middle Miocene ( Cappetta 1987). Pliocene: Eastern Atlantic ( Müller 1999).

Distribution in Portugal. Middle Miocene: (Langhian) Lower Tagus Basin ( Serralheiro 1954). Upper Miocene: (Tortonian) Lower Tagus Basin ( Serralheiro 1954); (Tortonian) Algarve Basin, Cacela Fm. (this paper); (Messinian), Alvalade Basin, Esbarrondadoiro Fm. ( Antunes & Balbino 2003).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Location of thestudy site, Leixão dosAlhos,Oura region,Albufeira municipality,southern Portugal, thegeographical coordinates: 37° 4'58.60"N, 8°14'0.39"W. H—Location of the Auramar Beach Resort Hotel.

FIGURE 2. Sampling site at Leixão dos Alhos, Oura region, Albufeira municipality, Algarve, Southern Portugal. X—Marks the spot shown in the Fig. 3.