Fig 1.
Aerial photograph (A) and geological simplified map (B) of the studied area.
The localities mentioned in the text are in black font and the towns and cities are in white font in A. C, Simplified stratigraphic section with the approximate position of the localities. Only the sites situated in the Ifezouane Formation are discussed in the text.
Fig 2.
A, Ceratodus humei (UMI-4); B, Arganodus tiguidiensis (UMI-2). Dotted lines show the reconstructed silhouette; C, Neoceratodus africanus (UMI-3). Scale bars: A and B, 10 mm; C, 20 mm.
Fig 3.
A-B, Mawsoniidae gen. et sp. indet. Right dentary (UMI-1). 1, photographs and 2, line drawings in lateral (A) and medial (B) views. C, cf. Axelrodichthys. Principal coronoid (UMI-30) in lateral (1) and medial (2) views. Arrows point anteriorly. f.V.m, foramen for the mandibular branch of the Vth nerve; pr.Ang, process sutured with the angular; s.att.Ang, surface of attachment for the angular; s.att.Co, surface of attachment for the coronoid; s.att.Mm, surface of attachment for the mentomeckelien; s.att.Part, surface of attachment for the prearticular; s.att.Part+Co4, surface of attachment for the prearticular and fourth coronoid; s.att.Spl, surface of attachment for the splenial. Scale bar: 20 mm.
Fig 4.
A, Posterior part of a maxilla (SESNE 1-03-2008). Photographs in lateral (1) and medial (2) views. m.orb, margin of the orbit; proc.ecpt, processus ectopterygoideus; p.s.c?, pore of the sensory canal?. B and C, scales of cf. Bawitius (UMI-12). Scale bars: 20 mm. Grey drawings are corresponding elements in Weiler [9], plate III (not to scale).
Fig 5.
Isolated ganoid scales, teeth and vertebral centra.
A-B: cf.? Lepidotes pankowskii, isolated scales. Arrows indicate the anterior processes (UMI-13). C-D:? Lepidotes pankowskii, isolated teeth (SESNE 1-61-2008). E-F: indeterminate Lepisosteoidea centra, E: caudal centrum (UMI-9), F: abdominal centrum (MDE-F-60). G-I:? Dentilepisosteus kemkemensis (UMI-11), isolated scales. Scale bars: 10 mm.
Fig 6.
A – C, partly articulated specimen (UMI-31). A, left lateral view of the complete specimen. B, photograph and drawing of the head in left lateral view. C, photograph and drawing of the posterior part of the braincase and three first vertebrae in left lateral view. D-F, isolated scales [UMI-17 (D, E) and UMI-14 (F)]. Bo, basioccipital; Cl, cleithrum; Clv, clavicle; con, concavity; Es, extrascapular; fsal, lateral foramen; fsav, ventral foramen; gr, groove; na, neural arch; Op, opercle; Pop, preopercle; pp, parapophysis; Sop, subopercle; V, vertebra (numbered). Scale bars: A, 20 mm; B, 10 mm; C-F, 5 mm.
Fig 7.
Oniichthys falipoui (MDE F-13).
A, left lateral view of a partly articulated specimen. B, photograph and drawing of the head in left lateral view. C, photograph and drawing of the ventral area of the opercular series in left lateral view. Dpt, dermopterotic; Epi, epioccipital; Es, extrascapular; Iop, interopercle; Op, opercle; Pa, parietal; Pop, preopercle; Sob, suborbital; Sop, subopercle. Scale bars: A, 20 mm; B, 10 mm; C, 3 mm.
Fig 8.
Calamopleurus africanus (MDE F-57).
Photographs (1) and interpretative drawing (2) of the braincase in dorsal (A), right lateral (B) and ventral views. Boc, basioccipital; Dpt, dermopterotic; Exo, exoccipital; f.Apal, articular facet for the autopalatine; fm, foramen magnum; f.Mx, articular facet for the anterior process of the maxilla; fna, foramen for the hyomandibular trunk of the VII nerve, lateral line nerve and jugular canal; fnb, foramen for the orbital artery; Fr, frontal; fsal, lateral foramen in basioccipital; f.Vo, facets for the suture with the vomers; fX, foramen for the tenth nerve (vagal); Ic, intercalar; l.conc, lateral concavity; Le, lateral ethmoid; nf, neural facet for the first neural arch; Ors, orbitosphenoid; Pa, parietal; Pas, parasphenoid; pas.t.p, parasphenoid tooth plate; Pe, preethmoid; Pro, prootic; ptf, posttemporal fossa; Pts, pterosphenoid; Spo, autosphenotic;
Fig 9.
Erfoudichthys rosae (MDE F-56).
A, right lateral view of the subcomplete specimen. B, photograph and drawing of the head in right lateral view. Ang, angular; Dpt, dermopterotic; Dsph, dermosphenotic; Es, extrascapular; Fr, frontal; g.s.c, groove for the sensory canals; Io, infraorbital; Iop, interopercle; Op, opercle; op.sc, openings of the sensory canal; Pa, parietal; Pop, preopercle; Q, quadrate; Sop, subopercle. Scale bars: A, 20 mm; B, 10 mm.
Fig 10.
A-B, right dentary (UMI-159). 1, photographs and 2, line drawings in lateral (A) and medial (B) views. dmt, depression for maxillary teeth; od, oval depression. C, maxilla? in lateral (1) and medial (2) view. Scale bars: 10 mm.
Fig 11.
A, ventral tooth plate (UMI-10) in dorsal (1) and ventral (2) views. Scale bar: 10 mm.
Fig 12.
A-B, portion of a braincase (SESNE 1-52-2008). A, photographs and B, line drawings in ventral (1) and left lateral (2) views. C, tentative reconstruction of the posterior part of the braincase with the paths of some blood vessels and nerves in left lateral view. D, vertebra in anterior or posterior (1) and lateral (2) views (UMI-15). E, left opercle in lateral view (SESNE 1-48-2008). Asp, autosphenotic; Boc, basioccipital; Exo, exoccipital; Fr, frontal; Ic, intercalar; jug.v, jugular vein; oph.V+VII, ophthalmic ramic of the trigeminal and facial nerves; orn.a, orbitonasal artery; Ors, orbitosphenoid; Pa, parietal; Pro, prootic; Psp, parasphenoid; Pto, pterotic; Pts, pterosphenoid; stf, subtemporal fossa; VII.hm, hyomandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve; IX, glossopharyngeal nerve; X, vagus nerve. Scale bars: 20 mm.
Fig 13.
Bony fish assemblage of the Kem Kem beds and trophic niches figured at scale.
Grey figures indicate taxa with uncertain body size.
Fig 14.
Average trophic levels against average body size of various recent marine and freshwater assemblages calculated from data collected in Fishbase, plus the Kem Kem beds assemblage.
Table 1.
Taxa of the Kem Kem assemblage, with their reconstructed body length and trophic level.