A new janassid (Chondrichthyes, Petalodontiformes) from the Late Mississippian of Alabama, USA

Teeth from the late Mississippian Bangor Limestone, Monteagle Limestone, and Pride Mountain Formation (early to middle Chesterian = late Viséan–early Serpukhovian) of northern Alabama, USA, are designated as Cavusodus whitei, gen. et sp. nov. The species is similar to Cypripediodens cristatus Duffin and Ward, known only from the Eyam Limestone Formation (Mississippian, late Viséan) of Derbyshire, England. Cypripediodens cristatus, the only species of the genus, is distinguished by teeth having an elongate crown, an apical cusp having a nearly circular cross-section, a secondary cusp on the lingual face, and several cristae on the lingual heel. Cavusodus whitei teeth resemble those of Cypripediodens cristatus but differ in lacking the secondary cusp, in having a more labiolingually compressed apical cusp, in possessing more robust lingual cristae, and in possessing a longitudinal groove on the labial face. The genera comprising the Janassidae are reconsidered. It is proposed that only Janassa, Cholodus, and Cypripediodens be retained, in addition to the new genus.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DB68190C-E9E6-48C7-B5A7-8A72D174CBCE