NEW MATERIAL OF SINOHELICOPRION FROM CHANGXING, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE

Ever since Liu and Chang in 1963 erected the new genus and species, Sinohelicoprion changhsingensis, on the basis of a few teeth discovered from the Late Permian Changxing (=former Changhsing) Formation of Changxing, Zhejiang Province, the teeth fossils of this genus were also found in Dingri of Xizang and in Jiahe of Hunan in China. They were respectively described as new species. To date three species were already referred to Sinohelicoprion, but it is a pity that their holotypes are all very fragmentary, the best one is only a row of five teeth. Therefore we know very little about its dentition character. Recently a new specimen of Sinohelicoprion was found from the same locality as the holotype of S. changhsingensis. It is much to be regretted that this specimen was not found in situ. Though that is the case, judging from the rock that preserved the fossil, it is safe to say that it occurs from the same stratigraphic horizon as the holotype of S. changhsingensis, that is the Changxing Formation. This new discovery is very significant,because it is the best preserved specimen of Sinohelicoprion ever known and may complement some new characters to the generic diagnosis.