| Titanonarke Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| |
| Titanonarke molini from the Eocene of Italy | |
Scientific 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[edit]
- ^ "Fossilworks: Titanonarke". fossilworks.org. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ 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.