Odd Carboniferous Harpacanthus updated
Harpacanthus fimbriatus
(Traquair 1886; Lund and Grogan 2004; Carboniferous; Bear Gulch Fm 320mya) is traditionally considered a cartilaginous fish with a unique set of six rostral ‘claspers’ (Fig 1 upper image).
Like, but unlike iniopterygian pectoral fins.
Like, but unlike the Falcatus dorsal spine.
Like, but unlike the laterally extended labial cartilages of the ray-like Jagorina and Squatina
Like, but unlike the medial rostral rod of the ratfish Callorhinchus or Rhinochimaera.
Like, but unlike the four jointed toothy rostral ornaments of the male Harpagofututor.
Like, but unlike the anteriorly-placed, spine-like fins of Aquilolamna.
Like, but unlike the seven immobile branching nasal processes of Squaloraja.
Instead of nesting with the odd chondrichthyans listed above,
Harpacanthus nests in the large reptile tree (LRT, 2188 taxa) with the equallly bizarre, but decidedly different, cave dwelling, sarcastic fringehead, Neoclinus (Figs 3, 4). Among the 421 tested fish and basal tetrapods, PAUP recovered these two as more like each other. This small phylogenetic shift from a close association with moray eels (Fig 5) occurred after re-scoring a fresh tracing of Harpacanthus (Fig 2) during the latest round of ‘housekeeping’ (= making corrections).
The hypothesis that the six toothy elements
were gill bars with teeth, as in moray eels (Fig 5), continues today. Overall a better match was found in Neoclinus, which has toothy gill bars (Fig 3), but lacks the ability to move them. Sans the rest of the skeleton, in 1886 these curved toothy bars were the first loose parts of this taxon known leading to much speculation as to what sort of animal they belonged to until Lund and Grogan published in 2004.
Lund and Grogan 2004 produced
a Harpacanthus diagram (Fig 1, upper image) that was modified here a few years ago (Fig 1, lower image). That first attempt included several errors rectified today (Fig 2). Corrections are a continuing process here and hopefully elsewhere, too.
Neoclinus is an underwater cave-dwelling fish
that does strange things with its maxillae (Figs 3, 4), but keeps its gill bars inside its throat. Gymnothorax, the moray eel (Fig 5), uses its movable toothy gill bars to help snatch prey and pull it back to the throat.
This new nesting also appears to be a novel hypothesis of interrelationships.
If not, please provide a citation so I can promote it here.
References
Lund R and Grogan E 2004. Five new euchondrocephalan Chondrichthyes from the Bear Gulch Limestone (Serpukhovian, Namurian E2b) of Montana, USA. In G. Arratia, M. Wilson, R. Cloutier (eds.), Recent Advances in the Origin and Early Radiation of Vertebrates 505-531.
Traquair RH 1886. On Harpacanthus, a new genus of Carboniferous Selachian Spines. Journal of Natural History. Series 5. 18(108): 493–496.
wiki/Sarcastic Fringehead
wiki/Harpacanthus
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/odd-carboniferous-harpacanthus-updated/
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