Miocene Elasmobranchii from the Duho Formation, South Korea

For the first time, a comprehensive study of the fauna of fossil elasmobranchs from the Miocene Duho Formation of the Pohang Basin (South Korea) is provided. A new species of kitefin shark, Dalatias orientalis, is described. The association consists of 14 species, most of which are recorded in South Korea for the first time: Hexanchus griseus, Dalatias orientalis sp. nov., Mitsukurina owstoni, Otodus megalodon, Parotodus benedenii, Carcharodon hastalis, 'Isurus' planus, Isurus sp. 1, Isurus sp. 2, Cetorhinus huddlestoni, Carcharhinus aff. C. plumbeus, Carcharhinus aff. C. amblyrhynchos, Carcharhinus aff. C. altimus and Galeocerdo aduncus. The fauna combines taxa with different ecological and bathymetric characteristics. It is dominated by pelagic sharks with a high migratory capacity as well as by deep-sea species and inhabitants of the insular and continental shelves. The ecological and bathymetric features of the assemblage thus indicate a deep-water paleoenvironment. The recent goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni is recorded for the first time from the Miocene epoch.

Automated summary

This comprehensive study provides the first examination of the fossil elasmobranch fauna from the Miocene Duho Formation in the Pohang Basin of South Korea. It introduces a new species of kitefin shark, Dalatias orientalis. The fauna is composed of 14 species, most of which are recorded for the first time in South Korea. The assemblage includes pelagic sharks, deep-sea species, and species inhabiting insular and continental shelves, suggesting a deep-water paleoenvironment. Additionally, the goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni is identified for the first time in the Miocene epoch.