Carcharhinus cf. brevipinna ( Müller & Henle, 1839 )

Hovestadt, Dirk C. & Da Silva, Carlos M., 2025, A new chondrichthyan (Sharks and Rays) Fossil Assemblage from the Miocene Cacela Fm. at Albufeira (Algarve, Portugal) with two new species: Palaeoecology and Biogeography, Zootaxa 5724 (1), pp. 1-66 : 25

Carcharhinus cf. brevipinna ( Müller & Henle, 1839)

Plate 4, Figs 72–87

cf. * Carcharhias ( Aprion) brevipinna Müller & Henle, 1839: 31 , pl. 7.

Material. 169 isolated teeth. NHMW 2025 /0177/0005 ( 16 specimens) .

Description. The dentition of the extant successor Carcharhinus brevipinna ( Müller & Henle, 1839) was illustrated by Bass et al. (1973: 154, pl. 4) that is used to identify the fossil remains. Despite their larger size the upper teeth ( Pl. 4, figs 72–78) also show similarity with those of C. priscus but are smaller sized than C. brachyurus and with milder serrations. The root is divided into two equally wide root lobes that diverge at an angle of 120– 140°.

The lower teeth ( Pl. 4, figs 79–87) possess a relatively high principal cusp, constricted near the base, that is slightly more inclines in teeth closer toward the commissure. The extended cutting edges possess a mild serration. The root is divided into equally sized root lobes that has a straight base (diverging at 160–180°).

Distribution. In the present day, Carcharhinus brevipinna lives in shallow neritic waters to depths of at least 70 m. It occurs in the Indo Pacific, in the Mediterranean and in the subtropical and tropical Atlantic, along the west coast of Africa from Morocco southwards ( Ebert et al. 2016).

Distribution in Portugal. Upper Miocene: (Tortonian) Algarve Basin, Cacela Fm. (this paper).