fromtheLateGretaceous
Selachians
(Turonian)
Atarque
Member,
Sandstone
TresHermanos
Formation,
Sevilleta
Grant,
NewMexico
Socorro
Gourty,
byDonald
L. Wolberg,
Paleontologist,
NewMexico
Bureau
Resources,
Socorro,
NM87801
ol MinesandMineral
Introduction
The Cretaceousfish faunasof NorthAmerica are still poorly known (Applegate,1970).
Selachians,although not uncommon in Cretaceousrocks, are especiallypoorly understood and in need of extensive study
( C a p p e t t a , 1 9 7 3 ) .A l t h o u g h M a r c o u d e scribed Ptychoduswhippleifrom New Mexico
as early as 1858, very little work on New
Mexico Cretaceousselachianshas been published.
While conducting a geologic study of Upper Cretaceousrocks exposedon the Sevilleta Grant near La foya, SocorroCounty, New
Mexico (Fig. 1), BruceBakerdiscovereda series of fossil-richlensesin sandstonesof the
lower part of the Tres Hermanos Formation
(Baker,1981).Bakerand Wolberg(1981)provided an interim report on the vertebrates
found at the locality. On the Sevilleta Grant,
more than 396 m (1,300ft) of Upper Cretaceous rocks overlie shales of the Dockum
Formation (Upper Triassic).The Upper Cretaceoussequenceconsistslargely of shales
and sandstonesand includes units from the
Dakota Sandstoneto the CrevasseCanyon
Formation (Baker and Wolberg, 1981).The
Tres Hermanos Formation overlies the Rio
SaladoTongue of the Mancos Shale and underlies the D-Cross Tongue of the Mancos
Shale.The fossil-richlensesthat yielded the
selachiansdescribedbelow are found in the
middle part of the Atarque SandstoneMember, the basalunit of the TresHermanos(Fig.
2). The stratigraphic nomenclature for the
region has been revisedby Hook and others
(1983).In the Sevilleta Grant, the Atarque
SandstoneMember varies in thickness from
Lodron
/Bernord\--.'
Pinos-i
-.t\/-Mis.;
.{'
/,.\s
Alsoin thisissue
l1l.^..Chupoderoj -:
sMY veso--jAKLA
Magdoleno
/"i?N
Z
llruy I ru
lnitts
Socorro
^
50n
tonio
3.4m (11ft) to 13m (42ft) and canbe divided
into lower, middle, and upper parts. The basal
Atarque consists of light-gray, fine-grained,
calcareoussandstones;the middle Atarque
consistsof yellow-orange,fine-grained,thinly
bedded, calcareoussandstone with shale
partings; the upper Atarque consistsof very
fine grained, gray-orangesandstones(Baker,
1981).
Selachiansare very abundant in lenses
within the middle part of the Atarque. In
addition to selachianfossils,turtle shell material, crocodilianarmor and teeth, and two
plesiosaurteeth have been recovered.Carbonate-cementedmollusk shell material occurs abundantly as well. The vertebrate
material was recovered by breaking down
the rock matrix with dilute aceticand formic
acids followed by washing, screening, and
drying the resultantconcentrate.Specimens
then were picked with and without the use
rF
of a binocular microscope.
Jornodo
a.
'.-_
=
. '1-
=
--'
dal
Muerto
Z.S
ConchasLakeStatePark
Enhanced
oil recoverywith
CO2flooding
fromthe Sol se
Gastropods
MeteMember
Service/News
Staffnotes
o. 8
p. 10
p.11
p.16
p.20
Goming
soon
I
FIGURE l-Location
13 km
-u,
ltl
map of the study area, Socorro County, New Mexico (after Baker, 1981).
Baritein north-central
NewMexico
Sediment
sortingin gravelly
megaripples
fromthe RioGrande
Espanola
Project
Subsidence
Abstracts
fromthe 1984Mineral
Symposium
This paper is an abbreviated version of a
larger work to be published as part of a volu m e o n L a t e C r e t a c e o u sp a l e o n t o l o g y
(NMBMMR, Circular 195),and it attemptsto
acquaint the readerwith the diversity of New
Mexico's Cretaceousselachians;economies
have been made in taxonomic descriptions
and historic data for various taxa. The classification scheme used generally follows
Romer (L966),Cappetta (1973),Cappetta and
Case(1975),and Cappetta(pers.comm. 1984).
iTAGI R O C XU N I T S
ITHOLOGI
.9
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o
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Srllslone
T -l
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E
Colcorenile
t4l
t'.l
Con g omerote
tr
tr
e
t-;l
z
zo
tr
I
olurboied
Eurrowed
Concreiions
Fossi lized
t__J
E
I
J>
-tE
-
E
Ss
l
9
L,,I
Crossstrotificolion
E
Coo
E
t__l
Unconforhrly
Foss L
ocoiily
F
-
I
::--51
.9
c
t t .
lTi
.9 I
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zz
t
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Dokolo
Sondslone
E6
tg
0 o c k um
FIGURE2-Stratigraphyof theSevilletaGrant,
SocorroCounty,New Mexico(afterBakerand
Wolberg,1981).
Systematicpaleontology
Class CHONDRICHTHYES
SubclassElasN,rosRAl'rcHr
Order Strecnu
Suborder Hynooorurorora
Family HysoooNnoer Owen, 1846
Genus HybodusAgassiz, 1,837
Hybodussp.
Fig. 3-E
2
New AAexnc@
GEOLOGY
Ptychodus
polygyrusAgassiz, 1839
Fig. 3-B
3
z
LtJ
nus in north-central Texas. Leriche (1939)
reported S, kaupi from the Coniacian,Santonian, and early Campanian of Africa. S.
falcatusis known from the Turonian of Texas
(Bilelo, 1969)and South Dakota (Cappetta,
1973).S.falcatusalso is known from the Cenomanian,Santonian,and Campanianof Europe (Priem, 1.972).
S. pristodontusranges from the late SanFamily PrvcHoooNrrDAEWoodward, L9L2 tonian to the end of the Maestrichtian, alAgassiz, 1839
Genus Ptychodus
though a pre-Campanianagemay be doubted
PtychoduszohippleiMarcou, 1858
on geologic grounds (Bilelo, 1969). S. prisFig. 3-A
has a cosmopolitandistribution. Detodontus
P. whippleiis a very distinctive taxon, and spite a stratigraphic overlap, the S. kaupi-9.
sequenceforms a suitexceptfor P. anonymus,not easily confused falcatus-9.pristodontus
with other species of Ptychodus.P. whrpplei able evolutionary series. The broad geowas first named for specimensfound in the graphic distribution of these taxa enhances
Cretaceousof New Mexico. Marcou (1858) their utility for stratigraphic application.
S. falcatusis not abundantly represented
reported P. whippleifrom "the gray sandy
marls, three miles north of Galisteo,on the in the Joyita Hills fauna. No completespecroad from Galisteoto Pecos,New Mexico." imens have been recovered vet. S. falcatus
Distinguishedby their raisedcrown, teeth of was an active predator as evidencedby its
Ptychodus
were adapted to crushing mollusk trenchant,serratedteeth.
shells.Although the genus has a cosmopolOrder GalEronvns
itan distribution, P. zohipplei,which occurs
SuborderIsunorplI
commonly when it is found, seemsto be reFamily Isunroer Garman, 1913
stricted to the Late Cretaceousof North
Genus Cretolamna
Glikman, 1958
America.
Agassiz, 1835
appendiculata
Cretolamna
Fig.
3-R-T
Ptychodus
anonylrtus
Williston, 1900
Fig. 3-C, D
has cosmopolitan distriC. appendiculata
in rocks of Cenomanian
bution
and
occurs
P. anonymusis similar to P. uthipplei;both
taxa display strongly raised apical crowns. to late Paleoceneage. The family Isuridae
However, the crown of P. anonymusis com- (Lamnidae in older literature) includes the
mackerel sharks and consists of large, voparativelymore elongatedthin that of P
racious fish with lunate caudal fins. The
zohipplei
and is less acutely conicai. Like P
whipplei,P. anonymus
is restrictedto the Late
Cretaceousof North America and was originally describedby Williston (1900)from the
"Benton'"and "Niobrara" of Kansas.It seems
likely that these two speciesare closely related,although the nature of the relationship
is as yet unclear.
r Scionce
Bardack(1968)figured a ptychodont from
andService
the Boyne member of the Vermillion River
Volume 7, No. 1, February 1985
EdifolrDeborah A. ShaF
Formationin Manitoba, Canada.I concurwith
Published quarterly by
Evetts (1979)that this specimencan be reNew Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources
ferred to P. anonymus.
a division o(New MexicoInstitute ofMining & Technology
The genus Hybodusis a common Mesozoic form that is known from the TriassicCretaceousin North America (Romer,1966).
Hybodusistypical of hybodont sharks,a group
that had a Paleozoicorigin and were cosmopolitan in distribution. Hybodonts
underwent their own adaptiveradiation and
were not at the origin of modern selachians.
February 1985 New MexicoGeology
P.polygyrusisa cosmopolitanspeciesknown
from the Turonian through the Santonianof
the English Chalk (Woodward, 1911), the
"Niobrara" of Kansas(Williston, 1900),and
the Selma Group of Alabama (Applegate,
1970). P. polygyrusalso is known from Belgium and the U.S.S.R.The abundanceand
diversityof the ptychodont faunain the Atarque Member clearly reflects the abundance
of the mollusks that formed the food source
for these selachians.
Order LarnrNrFoRMES
Suborder LeuNoroEr
Family Al.qconactpen Casier, 1947
Genus Squalicorax
Whitley, 1939
Squalicorax
falutus (Agassiz),1843
Fig. 3-P
The frenchant teeth of S. t'alcatusare recognizedeasily.Bilelo(1969)discussedthe ge-
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Superintend.ent
of Publiclnstruction
ADDointed
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1983-1989,Albuquqque
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Ins Cruces
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Steve Torres, 1967-7985, SNorrc
New Mexico lnstitute of Mining & Technology
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..
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Subwiptions:Issued quarterly, February, May, August,
November; subsaiption price 96.00/calendaryear.
Ed.itorial
ruttq: Conhibutions of material for consideration
in future issuesof NMG are welcome.Articles submitted
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Publishedas public domain, fhereforereproduciblewithout
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Sourcecreditrequested.
Circulation:1,4N
Ptinter: Univqsily of New Mexico Printint Plant
todusWIyWrus Agassiz (x4.2); C-D, 8-0130, PtychodusanonymusWilliston,
. ( x 10); F-G, 8-0017, Cretodussemiplicatus(Agassiz) (x7.7); H, 8-0031,
r'oodward)(x6.7); I, 8_01.62,Cretodussemiplicatus
(Agassiz)(x4.2); K, V
:hus raphiodon(Agassiz) (x 6.7); M, 8-0151, OdontaspisparoidensCappetta
norhynchusraphiodon(Aggasiz)
(x6);P, 8-0015,Squnliconxt'alcatus(Aggasiz)
tata(Aggasiz) (x 1.25);T, V0200, Cretolamna
(Aggasiz)(x4.2).
appendiculata
Nsw Mexico Geology February 1985
FIGURE4-A modernrepresentative
of the genus
Lamna,the Porbeagle,Lamnanasus.The genera
Cretolamna
and Cretodus
orobablvresembledthis
form.
FIGURE 6-,{ modern catshark, Chiloscylliumgriseum.
mackerelsharksare aggressivepredatorsand
include the modern GreatWhite, Carcharodon
(Linnaeus), in addition to the mod- FIGURE 7-A modern goblin shark, Mitsukurina
carcharias
ern genus Lamna(Fig.4). They generallyare owstoni.
found near the surfaceand feed on fish, including other sharks, marine reptiles, and
even mammals.
FIGURE8-A modern rePresentativeof the genus
Odontasois,the sand shark, Odontaspistaurus.
(Agassiz,1843)
semiplicatus
Cretodus
Fig. 3-F, G,l
As noted by Cappetta (1973),C. semiplicatus
is known from Europe where it is found in
rocks of Cenomanian to Turonian age. It also
is known from the late Turonian of Angola.
Evetts (L979)and Cappetta (L973)reported
the taxon from the Turonian of the Carlile
Shaleof South Dakota. Cretodussemiplicatus
aVpendiculata
are about equally
and Cretolamna
represented in the Atarque fauna.
Family Onpcroloarpee Gill, 1895
Genus ChiloscylliumOgllby, 1906
Chiloscylliumgreeni(Cappetta, 1973)
Fig. 5-A, B
Firstdescribedby Cappetta(1973)from the
greeni),C. greeni
Carlile Shale(as Brachaelurus
is distinguishedeasilyby its smallsLe, smooth
unornamentedenamel,and lateraldenticles
flanking a main cusp. This record oI C. greeni
is only the second record of the speciesand
the first record from New Mexico. Cappetta
(1973)suggeststhat C. greenimay be ancestral Io Sauatirhina.
The fimity Orectolobidae includes the
modem nurse sharks, leopard sharks, and
catsharks.They are small- to medium-sized
sharks that are benthonic, coastal dwelling
forms, now found in the warmer waters of
the Indo-Pacific.The genusChiloscyllium,the
catshark, is still extant and is characterized
by strongly developed markings (Fig. 6).
FIGURE 9-A modern thresher shark, Alopinsaulpinus.
the extinct selachian family Scapanorhynchidae and known only from fossils. Then,
in 1898Mitsukurina ou)stoniwas taken from
great depths in the PacificOcean near japan
(Fig. 7). Since 1898,the modern specieshas
been recorded from Portugal, French Guyana, South Africa, Australia, and the Gulf of
Gascogne,France (Cappetta, pers. comm.
1e84).
Genus AnomotoilonArambourg, 1952
Anomotodonsp.
Fig. 3-Q
The Odontaspidae (Carchariidae in older
literature) today comprise the sand sharks
(Fig.8). Odontaspidsare primarily mediumsized sharks that inhabit shallow waters. They
are active swimmers and feed on fish, crustaceans,and cephalopods.
Family CRsroxvRHrNpnr Glikman, 1958
Genus PlicatolamnaHerman,
in Cappetta and Case, 1975
Plicatolamnaarcuata(Woodward, 1894)
Fig. 3-H,I
P. nrcuatawas recognized as a distinct speciesby Herman (inCappetta and Case, 1975)
This genus is present in the Cretaceousof
from the Campanian of England. It also is
Morocco (Arambourg, 1952) and Germany.
present in the Cenomanian of Lithuania, the
Cappetta (1976) and Case (1980) note the
Campanian of New fersey, and the Campansimilarity of Anomotodonto Scapanorhynchusian and Maestrichtian
of Belgium.
and include the genus within the MitsukuFamily At opuoal BonaParte, 1838
rinidae. In morphology, a strong resemHerman,
rapax,but
Genus Paranomotodon
blance is seen to Scapanorhynchus
in Cappetta and Case, 1975
vertical striae are absent.The foyita Hills maFig. s-Q
terial may represent a new species of AnFamily MttsurunrNroan Jordan, 1898
omotodon,but more material is need to make
Woodward, 1889
Genus Scapanorhynchas
is known from the CenoParanomotodon
such a determination.
raphiodon(Agassiz, 1843)
Scapanorhynchus
manian-Santonian of Europe and the Late
Fig. 3-K, L, O
Cretaceousof Zaire and Japan.Cappetta and
Family OpoNtespnan Muller and Henle,
cf. anCase (1975)described Paranomotodon
S. raphiodonhas cosmopolitan distribution.
t841.
gustidensfrom the Late Carnpanian of New
Some confusion exists in differentiating beGenus OdontaspisAgassiz, L838
tween S. raphiodonand S. texanus(seeCapJersey.
OdontaspisparaidensCappetta, 1973
is included within the AlParanomotodorz
petta and Case,1975),or rather in how some
Fig.3-M, N
opiidae, or thresher sharks. Modern thresher
paleontologistshave distinguished the taxa.
This species is distinguished from other sharks, distinguished by the extreme develS. raphiodonis easily recognized by its long
and slender recurved blade, internally or- species of Odontaspisby its small size and opment of their caudal fin, are active preroot morphology. The |oyita Hills specimens dators, using their caudal fin to sfun prey
namented by fine vertical striae.
is included with the gob- are only the second known occurrences of (Fig.9). They are cosmopolitanin open ocean
Scapanorhynchzs
is a common faunal waters, but also venture inshore (Castro,
lin sharks and it was long thought that Sca- the taxon. O. parztidens
1983).
was the sole representative of element.
panorhynchus
February 1985 Nea Mexico Geology
S
V
FIGURE 5-A, 9-0019, Chiloscylliumgreeni (Cappetta), lateral view (x20); B, 8-0008, Chiloscylliumgreeni (Cappetta), lateral view (x20); C, 8-0100,
trinngularis(Reuss),tangential view ( x 13.5);D, V0773, P. triangularis(Reuss),occlusalview ( x 13.5);E-F, 8-.0171.,P. tuiangularis(Reuss),
Ptychotrygon
o c c l u s a l a n d b a s a l v i e w s ( x 1 0 ) ; G , 8 - 0 1, P0 .1t r i a n g u l a r i s ( R e u s s ) , b a s a l v i e w ( x 1 3 . 5 ) ; H , B - 0 7 6 9 , P . t r i a n g u l a r i s ( R e u s s ) , o c c l u s a l v i e w ( x 1 3 . 5 ) ; I , B
0025,lschyrhizaaaonicolaEstes( x 75);l, V0775, Ischyrhizamira Leidy ( x 2.5); K-M, 8-0012, "Batoid indet.," lateral, occlusal,and basal views ( x 13.5);
N-O, 8-0159, "Batoid indet.," lateral and basal views (x20); P, 8-0010, Rhinobatos
sp. (x13.5); Q,V0724, Paranomotodon
sp., lateralview (x4.2);
R-S, 8-0178, P. triangulnris(Reuss),basal and posterior views ( x 20); T-U, B-0767, P. triangularis(Reuss),occlusal and anterior views ( x 20); V, B0154,lschUrhizacf. l. aaonimlaEstes, oblique view of oral tooth ( x 13.5).
New Mexico Geology February 1985
Order Relrronuns
Suborder RHtNosetororr
Family RHINosertpeEMuller and Henle,
1841
Genus Rhinobatos
Linck, 1790
Rhinobatos
sp.
Fig. 5-P
Thesevery distinctive teeth are characterized by a low, cap-like crown and massive,
bulbous roots. Cappetta (7973)reported Rftlnobatosfrom the Turonian of South Dakota,
and the genus is cosmopolitanin distribution during the Cretaceous.In some respects,the Joyita Hills specimensdiffer from
thosereported by Cappetta(7973),Cappetta
and Case (1975),and Cappetta (1980).Referralto a speciesof Rhinobatos
is not possible
at this time.
Rhinobatosis
a guitarfish.Thesefish, which
may enter estuaries(Smith, 1953),are moderate-sized,sluggish,bottom-living rays that
are common on sandy bottoms. Guitarfish
are poor swimmers and frequently conceal
themselvesbeneath the sand (Fig. 10).
seas.However, they display a broad salinity
tolerance and commonly enter brackish or
even fresh waters.
Ischyrhizamira Leidy, 1,856
Fig. 5-J
tailed comparisons of larger samples may
allow for finer stratigraphic differentiation of
the Turonian. Additionally, the Joyita Hills
specimensvarv in color frorn almostblack to
light yellow-brbwn. The significanceof these
color variations is unclear, but it may relate
to the thermal history of the area.
The rostral teeth of L mira are much larger
than those of I. aztonicola.
This report of 1.
"Batoids indet."
mira representsa modest range extension of
Fig.5-K-O
the species.Cappetta and Case (1975)and
These specimensare small teeth with disSlaughterand Steiner(1968)report the range
flat, rhomboidal crowns that show
tinctive,
of L mira,in the broad sense,as Late Turonian to Late Maestrichtian (seeMcNultv and a weak medial keel and sloping facets.The
Slaughter,1964).Slaughterand Steiner rec- margin of the crown is thick and overhangs
ognized two subspecies:Ischyrhizamira a well-developedand divided root. In form,
but it is
(Late Turonian through Coniacian) these specimensrecall Rhombodus,
schneideri
and Ischyrhizamira mira (basal Campanian impossibleto refer these specimenswithout
through Late Maestrichtian).It seemslikely detailed histological studies. For now, they
that the foyita Hills specimensof this report will be included within the "batoids indet."
category.
representl. mira schneideri.
Conclusions
Selachians frequently compose a significant portion of Cretaceousmarine, brackish,
As the figures of P. trinngularis indicate, and even freshwater faunas of the Western
Suborder SclsnonuyNcHorDEr
the teeth appear to be quite distinctive. This Interior of North America. Only sporadic
Family Sct-ERonsyNcHroan
Cappetta, 1974
speciesis representedabundantly in the |oy- studieshave been conducted on these faunas
Genus IschyrhizaLeidy, 1856
for the Western Interior as a whole, and even
ita Hills collections.
lschyrhimaoonicolaEstes, 1954
lessis known of Cretaceousselachianfaunas
P.
triangularis
in
distribuis
cosmopolitan
Fig. 5-I, V
tion and is known from the Turonian of in the New Mexico record. The locality disI. aoonicolawas first described from the Czechoslovakiaand South Dakota (Cap- covered by Bruce Baker provides an opporLance Formation (Maestrichtian) of Wyo- petta,1973;Evetts, 1979).Cappettaand Case tunity to study a relatively large and diverse
ming (Estes,1964).lt also is known from ihe (1975)reported P. triangularisfrom the Cam- sample of the New Mexico fauna, and it is
Early Senonian of Belgium and the Turonian panian of New jersey. However, Cappetta especially important because it is securely
of South Dakota and Texas(Cappetta,1973). (1975)redescribedthe New Jerseymaterial placed in a stratigraphic context by inverteCappetta noted that the Turonian specimens as a new species,Ptychotrygonoermiculata. brate data. In this report, 18 selachian taxa
are significantly smaller than those from the Thus, it appears that P. triangularis has a are documented in the Atarque Sandstone
Maestrichtian.
stratigraphic range limited to the Turonian. Member of the Tres Hermanos Formation,
The Sclerorhynchidaewere sawfishes,
The foyita Hills sample differs in some re- and most represent first documented occurcharacterizedby a long, swordlike rostrum spectsfrom the South Dakota material. The rences in New Mexico (Table 1). This fauna
studded with teeth and used for obtaining New Mexico specimensdisplay more arcuate compares well with that reported by Capfood. Modern sawfish are found primarily crowns/ are not as triangular, and show mi- pena (1973)and Evetts (1979) tuom the Tuin coastal waters of tropical and subtropical nor differences in ornamentation. More de- ronian portion of the Carlile Shale of South
Dakota. This fauna also compares well with
selachianfaunas of similar age from the upper Midwest (Witzke, 1981).Figure11 shows
the distribution of comparable Turonian selachian faunas.
Given more complete samplesthrough the
Cretaceous stratigraphic record, selachian
Genus PtychotrygonJaekel, 1894
Ptychotrygon triangularis(Reuss, 1845)
Fig. 5-C-H, R-U
TABLE l-Faunal
FIGURE 10-A modern speciesof Rhinobatos,the guitarfish, Rhinobatosschlegeli.
February 1985 Netrl Mexico Geology
list
Hybodussp.
Ptychoduswhipplei
Ptychodusanonymus
Ptychoduspolygyrus
Squalicorax
falcatus
appendiculata
Cretolamn"a'
Cretodussemiplicatus
Chiloscylliumgreeni
Supanorhynchusraphiodon
Anomotodonsp.
Odontaspisparcidens
Plicatolamnaarcuata
sp.
Paranomotodon
sp.
Rhinobatos
Ischyrhizaaoonicola
Ischyrhizamira
Ptychotrygon tr iangularis
"Batoidsindet."
Sloan and Joseph Hartman, University of
Minnesota, provided accessto comParative
material from Cretaceousdepositsin northern Minnesota. Michael Wooldridge, Teresa
Mueller, and Linda Wells-McCowan Provided drafting assistance.This manuscript
was read critically by JiriZidek, New Mexico
Bureauof Mines and Mineral Resources,and
Henri Cappetta, Montpellier, France.Their
suggestioni and commentsare appreciated.
This researchwas suPPorted by the New
Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources.
References
FIGUREll-Late EarlyTuronianNorthAmerican
Dots representcomparablesepaleogeography.
lachianfaunas(afterWilliamsand Stelck,1975)
Shadedareasindicatewater.
faunas, in particular the smaller faunal elements. mav offer the possibilitv of better
shatigraphit correlations.Selachianteeth and
dermal denticlescan occur abundantly and
over a wide geographicarea, can have limited stratigraphicrange,and are identifiable.
Theseattributeslend themselveswell to biostratigraphicapplications.
In general,the Cretaceouswas characterized by a distribution of land and sea that
allowed mobile organismsrelativelyeasyaccess to widely separatedgeographic areas
(Fig. 12). It is this easy dispersion of organisms that highlights the potential for stratigraphic correlationsbased on selachians.It
is also probable that selachianfaunas can
provide useful paleoenvironmental data.
Modern analogsor actuallyrelatedforms still
existand provide an opportunity for relating
fossil selachiantaxa to extant taxa.
Basedon availabledata,it seemslikely that
the foyita Hills fauna occupiedu .teu.-ihot"
environment.The presenceof relatively unabradedturtle, crocodile,and dinosaurbone
fragmentsindicatesa nearby shoreline and
riverine or estuarinehabitats.The selachian
fauna is relativelyunbiasedin that both bottom-dwelling forms and active swimmers are
well represented.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS-BTuCe
BaKeTdiscovered the locality that yielded the specimens
describedin this paper when he did field
studiesrelatedto his graduateresearchat the
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. With the assistanceof StephenHook,
Getty Oil Company, Baker securely placed
the locality within a stratigraphic context.
PeterRobinson,University of Colorado,graciouslyprovided accessto the MichaelEvetts
collection of selachianteeth from the Turner
SandvMember (Turonian)of the Carli-leShale
of South Dakota,as well as to other material
repositedin the paleontologycollectionsof
the University of Colorado, Boulder. R. E.
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