An Exceptionally Large Lower Jaw of Lytoceratoidea from the Upper Bajocian (Middle Jurassic) of Northern Caucasus

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Abstract

A large-sized upper jaw of an ammonite from the Niortense Zone of the Upper Bajocian of the Kuban basin (Karachay-Cherkessia) is described. In its anterior part it has a pointed calcified structure (rhyncholite). Judging by its shape and size, the upper jaw belonged to a species of the genus Lytoceras (family Lytoceratidae), the lower jaw of which was already described from the same area immediately below in the section. The presence of a rhyncholite allows us to attribute the new finding to the rhynchaptychus type of ammonoid jaw apparatus. This is the earliest known complete jaw of this type and, to date, the only known upper jaw of Lytoceratina. Probably, calcification of the anterior part of the jaw apparatus of ammonoids of the suborders Lytoceratina and Phylloceratina was a normal process occurring as the mollusk matured.

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About the authors

V. V. Mitta

Borissiak Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences; Cherepovets State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: mitta@paleo.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow, 117647; Cherepovets, 162602

A. A. Mironenko

Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: paleometro@yandex.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow, 119017

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Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
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1. JATS XML
2. Fig. 1. Location of the location: a – the general scheme, the frame shows the outline of a detailed map; b – a detailed map, indicating the location of 17.

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3. Fig. 2. The right bank of the Kyafar River below art. Storozhevaya, part of location 17; the arrow shows the excavation from the extracted siltstone nodule with the find described in the work.

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4. Fig. 3. Section of the Strenoceras niortense zone on the right bank of the Kafar River (location 17) (according to: Mitta, 2021) and the level of discovery of the described jaw.

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5. Fig. 4. Lytoceras maxilla (Thysanolytoceras) sp., ex. Very, No. 5546/404: a – from above, b – from the side, c – the front part is larger; Karachay-Cherkessia, Zelenchuksky District, S. Berit Ave. Kyafar S. voloske. Storozhevaya, location No. 17; upper Bajocian, Strenoceras niortense zone, baculatum Baculatoceras subzone, baculatum faunal horizons. Notation: R – whether of a different scale ruler. m. 10.

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6. 5. EDX spectra of various parts of the jaw of Lytoceras (Thysanolytoceras) sp.: a – pyriticized area in the middle of the jaw, b – phosphatized main part of the jaw, c – calcitic rhincholite, d – carbonated areas in the grooves on the sides of the central part of the jaw.

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