Predator-prey dynamics in a latest Cretaceous marine ecosystem: mosasaur and shark attacks on the echinoid Hemipneustes striatoradiatus from the Maastrichtian type area (the Netherlands, Belgium).

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Predator-prey dynamics in a latest Cretaceous marine ecosystem: mosasaur and shark attacks on the echinoid Hemipneustes striatoradiatus from the Maastrichtian type area (the Netherlands, Belgium).
Authors:	GOOLAERTS, STIJN¹ sgoolaerts@naturalsciences.be
Source:	Geologica Belgica. 2025, Vol. 28 Issue 3/4, p133-146. 14p.
Subject Terms:	Shark attacks, Echinoida, Mesozoic Era, Reptiles, Echinodermata, Predation, *Cretaceous Period
Geographic Terms:	Netherlands
Abstract:	Three tests of the holasteroid echinoid Hemipneustes striatoradiatus from the Belgian-Dutch type area of the Maastrichtian Stage preserving evidence of vertebrate-invertebrate interactions are documented and analysed. One specimen exhibits adoral pentagonal puncture marks and a large aboral scar from a mosasaur attack, with Mosasaurus hoffmannii as the presumed predator. A second test preserves evidence of two separate attacks, the first by a mosasaur, presumably Plioplatecarpus marshi, leaving both a pentagonal adoral scar and a large aboral one, and the second by a shark, leaving non-penetrating small, deep triangular pits with tapering tails. A similar pitting is seen on the third test, arranged in clusters and here interpreted as a shark bite from above followed by a second bite subsequent to a 90° rotation of the echinoid. These finds provide the first unambiguous evidence of mosasaur predation on Hemipneustes and add to the sparse record of shark-echinoid interactions, suggesting that predation on large holasteroids by vertebrates was more frequent than previously recognised. All three tests also exhibit syn vivo and postmortem invertebrate interactions, including also an undescribed serpulid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database:	Energy & Power Source

Description
Abstract:	Three tests of the holasteroid echinoid Hemipneustes striatoradiatus from the Belgian-Dutch type area of the Maastrichtian Stage preserving evidence of vertebrate-invertebrate interactions are documented and analysed. One specimen exhibits adoral pentagonal puncture marks and a large aboral scar from a mosasaur attack, with Mosasaurus hoffmannii as the presumed predator. A second test preserves evidence of two separate attacks, the first by a mosasaur, presumably Plioplatecarpus marshi, leaving both a pentagonal adoral scar and a large aboral one, and the second by a shark, leaving non-penetrating small, deep triangular pits with tapering tails. A similar pitting is seen on the third test, arranged in clusters and here interpreted as a shark bite from above followed by a second bite subsequent to a 90° rotation of the echinoid. These finds provide the first unambiguous evidence of mosasaur predation on Hemipneustes and add to the sparse record of shark-echinoid interactions, suggesting that predation on large holasteroids by vertebrates was more frequent than previously recognised. All three tests also exhibit syn vivo and postmortem invertebrate interactions, including also an undescribed serpulid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	13748505
DOI:	10.20341/gb.2025.011