Shark-cetacean trophic interaction, Duinefontein, Koeberg,(5 Ma), South Africa

R Govender - South African Journal of Science, 2015 - scielo.org.za
South African Journal of Science, 2015scielo.org.za
This study forms part of a larger project to reconstruct the Mio-Pliocene marine
palaeoenvironment along South Africa's west coast. It documents the shark-cetacean trophic
interaction during the Zanclean (5 Ma) at Duinefontein (Koeberg). The damage described on
the fragmentary cetacean bones was compared with similar damage observed on fossils
from Langebaanweg, a Mio-Pliocene site on the west coast of South Africa, and data present
in the literature. This comparison showed that the damage was the result of shark bites. The …
Abstract
This study forms part of a larger project to reconstruct the Mio-Pliocene marine palaeoenvironment along South Africa's west coast. It documents the shark-cetacean trophic interaction during the Zanclean (5 Ma) at Duinefontein (Koeberg). The damage described on the fragmentary cetacean bones was compared with similar damage observed on fossils from Langebaanweg, a Mio-Pliocene site on the west coast of South Africa, and data present in the literature. This comparison showed that the damage was the result of shark bites. The state of preservation makes it difficult to determine if the shark bite marks were the cause of death or as a result of scavenging. The presence of the bite marks on the bone would, however, indicate some degree of skeletonisation. Bite marks on some cranial fragments would suggest that the cetacean's body was in an inverted position typical of a floating carcass. The preservation of the material suggests that the bones were exposed to wave action resulting in their fragmentation as well as abrasion, polishing and rolling. It also suggests that the cetacean skeletons were exposed for a long time prior to burial. The morphology of the bites suggests that the damage was inflicted by sharks with serrated and unserrated teeth. Shark teeth collected from the deposit include megalodon (Carcharodon megalodon), white (Carcharodon carcharias) as well as mako (Isurus sp. and Cosmopolitodus hastalis) sharks, making these sharks the most likely predators/scavengers.
scielo.org.za
以上显示的是最相近的搜索结果。 查看全部搜索结果

Google学术搜索按钮

example.edu/paper.pdf
搜索
获取 PDF 文件
引用
References