This very rare predatory fish has a outstanding Preservation that is very rich in details. Remarkable is that scales still show some reflections . All fins are in the correct position.
The fish is about 186 mm long.
The genus Cladocyclus from the Crato member was accounted to a independent species, Cladocyclus ferus Santos, 1950. A newer interpretation* of the fossil material conclude this possibility. It strongly seems that C. ferus is a junior synonym of Cladocyclus gardneri Agassiz,. 1841. It seems that the young predators follow the small specimens of the genus Dastilbe that is relative frequent at this site. It seems also the Araripe Basin had to offer good conditions for a nursery of marine fishes. The Santana formation is a window in a entire fossil ecosystem.
(*Castro & Brito 2004 : The ichthyodectiform Cladocyclus gardneri (Actinopterygii: Teleostei) from the Crato and Santana Formations, Lower Cretaceous of Araripe Basin, North-Eastern Brazil)
|
