Recommended Citation
Published in Tertiary Research, Volume 19, Issue 3+4, May 1, 1999, pages 71-77.
Abstract
An unusually short rostrum from the Yorktown Formation, Early Pliocene, eastern North Carolina at Lee Creek Mine, USA, is described as a new species, Makaira purdyi. The rostrum is morphologically distinct from any Recent or fossil istiophorid in the following combination of characters: (1) fused portion of premaxillae is short and stout with denticlcs covering at least the distal one-half of its dorsal surface; (2) at one-fourth bill length, the cross-section is nearly round (depth/width = 0.95). The new marlin is distinguished from the extant shortbill spearfish, Tetrapturus angustirostris, and any istiophorid with a short rostrum caused by injury.
Disciplines
Biology
Publisher statement
Published by the Tertiary Research Group.
Included in
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/bio_fac/19