First occurrence of the giant shark Carcharocles megalodon (Agassiz, 1843) (Lamniformes; Otodontidae) at Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Julieta De Pasqua; Federico Agnolin; Alexis M. Aranciaga Rolando; Sergio Bogan; Diego Gambetta

doi:10.4072/rbp.2021.2.05

First occurrence of the giant shark Carcharocles megalodon (Agassiz, 1843) (Lamniformes; Otodontidae) at Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

Authors

Julieta De Pasqua Laboratorio de Anatomía Comparada y Evolución de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470 (C1405DJR), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Federico Agnolin Laboratorio de Anatomía Comparada y Evolución de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales“Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470 (C1405DJR), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fundación de Historia Natural “Félix de Azara”, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropología, Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775 (C1405BDB), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Alexis M. Aranciaga Rolando Laboratorio de Anatomía Comparada y Evolución de los Vertebrados, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470 (C1405DJR), Buenos Aires, Argentina.ología, Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775 (C1405BDB), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Sergio Bogan Fundación de Historia Natural “Félix de Azara”, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Antropología, Universidad Maimónides, Hidalgo 775 (C1405BDB), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Diego Gambetta Museo Mar de Ajó, Mar de Ajó, Lebensohn 566 (CP7109), Buenos Aires, Argentina.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4072/rbp.2021.2.05

Abstract

Carcharocles megalodon is considered a macropredatory shark that inhabited the seas around the world from middle
Miocene to late Pliocene. In Argentina, it has only been formally recorded at two localities. Here, we report the first record for this taxon in the Buenos Aires Province. This occurrence is based on an isolated tooth recovered on the beach at the Punta Médanos locality, which lacks clear stratigraphic context. Based on the regional geology, the specimen probably came from Pliocene beds. Its size indicates that it probably belongs to a juvenile individual.

Keywords: Carcharocles megalodon, macropredatory shark, fossil teeth, Mar de Ajó.

RESUMO – Carcharocles megalodon é considerado um tubarão macropredador que habitou os mares ao redor do mundo desde o Mesomioceno até o Neoplioceno. Na Argentina, a espécie só foi formalmente registrada em duas localidades. Aqui, relatamos o primeiro registro desse táxon na Província de Buenos Aires. Essa ocorrência é baseada em um dente isolado recuperado na praia da localidade de Punta Médanos, que carece de contexto estratigráfico claro. Com base na geologia da região, o espécime provavelmente veio de camadas do Plioceno. Seu tamanho indica que provavelmente pertence a um indivíduo jovem.

Palavras-chave: Carcharocles megalodon, tubarão macropredatório, dentes fósseis, Mar de Ajó.

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Published

2021-08-29

How to Cite

De Pasqua, J., Agnolin, F., Aranciaga Rolando, A. M., Bogan, S., & Gambetta, D. (2021). First occurrence of the giant shark Carcharocles megalodon (Agassiz, 1843) (Lamniformes; Otodontidae) at Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Revista Brasileira De Paleontologia, 24(2), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.4072/rbp.2021.2.05

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Vol. 24 No. 2 (2021): Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia

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