Spathobatidae

Spathobatidae is an extinct family of rays known from the Late Jurassic epoch. Spathobatidae is the only family within the order Apolithabatiformes. All named genera within this family are known from Europe, although a specimen from Argentina may also have affinities with these taxa. The general body plan of spathobatids is reminiscent of modern guitarfish.^[1]

Spathobatids Temporal range: Late Jurassic, late Kimmeridgian–early Tithonian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Three distinct spathobatids: (a) Belemnobatis (blunt-snout), (b) Apolithabatis (wedge-snout), (c) Aellopobatis (elongate-snout)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Division:	Batomorphi
Order:	†Apolithabatiformes
Family:	†Spathobatidae Dames, 1888
Type species
Spathobatis bugesiacus Thiollière, 1849
Genera
†Aellopobatis †Apolithabatis †Asterodermus †Belemnobatis †Kimmerobatis †Spathobatis

Taxonomic history

Well-preserved holomorphic ray fossils have been known from Late Jurassic Lagerstätte deposits throughout Europe since the mid-19th century, characterized by their complete, articulated preservation including soft tissue outlines. Asterodermus,^[2] Spathobatis,^[3] and Belemnobatis^[4] were named in 1836, 1849, and 1852, respectively. An 1888 publication by Wilhelm Dames is the first known mention of the family Spathobatidae, albeit without a formal diagnosis or description.^[5] While this would not be accepted by the modern guidelines of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the establishment of the name before 1999 allows for its use. Unfortunately, this publication went unnoticed until 2024,^[6] so researchers in the early 21st century falsely attributed the clade's authorship to Underwood, 2006.^[7][8][9]

Kimmerobatis, an additional genus, was described in 2019.^[8] A thorough review of Jurassic batomorphs in 2024 allowed researchers to reidentify several specimens previously categorized as a large Spathobatis morphotype as belong to the new genus Aellopobatis.^[6] Apolithabatis was named based on a single well-preserved specimen the following year.^[1]

Classification

The phylogenetic relationships of these Jurassic batomorphs have been unclear. Some researchers have expressed uncertainty regarding whether "spathobatids" form a paraphyletic or monophyletic group and to which order they belong.^[8][6]

In their 2025 description of Apolithabatis, Türtscher et al. analyzed most of the Jurassic European holomorphic ray fossils. Their phylogenetic analysis placed all of these taxa in a monophyletic clade at the base of Batomorphi, outside of the crown group (all of the extant rays and their closest relatives). As such, they established the new order Apolithabatiformes to hold the family Spathobatidae. The authors emphasized that, while several consistent characters unite these genera within a group, the order is a working hypothesis subject to change with the future description of additional specimens. Their results are displayed in the cladogram below:^[1]

Batomorphi	†Apolithabatiformes Asterodermus Belemnobatis Kimmerobatis Spathobatis Aellopobatis Apolithabatis Spathobatidae Rhinopristiformes Rajiformes Torpediniformes Myliobatiformes

See also

• Paleobiota of the Solnhofen Limestone