Estudo dos ictiólitos da coleção paleontológica do departamento de biociências do CCA/UFPB

Abstract

It is known that scientific collections are important tools in the teaching-learning process, both as support in the classroom for the teacher or in research contributing to scientific knowledge. The CCA/UFPB Paleontological Collection was started more than ten years ago and, until now, few materials have been studied in more detail. The paleontological collection consists of specimens from research, field classes and donations, from fossil sites in the sedimentary basins of Northeast Brazil, with emphasis on fossil fish belonging to the Santana Group (Romualdo and Crato Formations) of the Araripe Basin. Thus, the present work aims to identify and classify the fossil fish from the paleontological collection of the Department of Biosciences at CCA/UFPB. The study was divided into two stages: first, curatorship procedures were performed on these materials (cleaning, cataloging, photographic record); then, the identification of the ichthyoliths was carried out, using the specialized literature as a basis. The state of preservation of the materials was taken into account, the main characteristics of each species and the measurements of the materials were carried out based on the morphometric orientations. The Paleontological collection of the DB/CCA/UFPB has 167 specimens of ichthyoliths, of which 146 were identified and classified into eight species: Dastilbe crandalli, Rhacolepis buccalis, Vinctifer comptoni, Tharrhias araripis, Notelops brama, Cladocyclus gardneri, Calamopleurus. cylindricus and Araripelepidotes. temnurus. The most abundant species in the collection were D. crandalli and R. buccalis, and the least abundant was A. temnurus. The identified species mostly belong to the Romualdo Formation (seven species), rarely being found in the Crato Formation, except for the species D. cranedalli which is found in the Crato Formation. They can be preserved in limestone concretions and laminated limestone slabs. Part of the specimens analyzed had the cannibalistic habit and were predators. During the analysis of the material, it was verified that some specimens presented some anthropic alterations, such as: modeling of fins, grooves and polishing around the fossil. The pieces that underwent these changes are usually pieces that were seized during the illegal trade in fossils, a practice that compromises the fossil heritage and its preservation. Therefore, the present study will serve as a tool in the dissemination of knowledge related to Paleontology, in the preservation of the fossil heritage and as an aid in the curation and identification of fossil fish.