Titanonarke
Temporal range:
Titanonarke molini from the Eocene of Italy
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Superorder: Batoidea
Order: Torpediniformes
Family: Narcinidae
Genus: Titanonarke
Carvalho, 2010

Titanonarke is an extinct genus of large electric rays known from the Ypresian age of the Eocene epoch.[1] It currently contains two species from the Bolca Lagerstatte of Italy, T. molini and T. megapterygia. The exceptional preservation of multiple entire individuals has allowed a detailed reconstruction of their lives. Specimens of both species have been found with various ontogenetic stages and with parasitic isopods preserved. One specimen contains a fossilized embryo, showing this species to be viviparous. This species seems to prefer shallow water habitats associated with coral reefs, not unlike modern relatives. Stomach contents reveal a diet which included an extinct large benthic foraminifera genus, Alveolina.[2]

References

  1. "Fossilworks: Titanonarke". fossilworks.org. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. Marramà, Giuseppe; Claeson, Kerin M.; Carnevale, Giorgio; Kriwet, Jürgen (2018-11-14). "Revision of Eocene electric rays (Torpediniformes, Batomorphii) from the Bolca Konservat-Lagerstätte, Italy, reveals the first fossil embryo in situ in marine batoids and provides new insights into the origin of trophic novelties in coral reef fishes". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 16 (14): 1189–1219. doi:10.1080/14772019.2017.1371257. ISSN 1477-2019. PMC 6130837. PMID 30210265.


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