Sclerorhynchus

Scler-o-rin-kuss.
By Benjamin Gutierrez
Published on

Benjamin Gutierrez

Vertebrate Paleontologist

Benjamin Gutierrez is a leading expert on dinosaurs, particularly the mighty theropods. His fieldwork in South America has uncovered new species and provided insights into dinosaur social structures.

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Gutierrez, B. (2016, July 16). Sclerorhynchus. Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/sclerorhynchus/

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Name

Sclerorhynchus ‭(‬hard snout‭)‬.

Phonetic

Scler-o-rin-kuss.

Named By

Woodwood‭ ‬-‭ ‬1889.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Chondrichthyes,‭ ‬Elasmobranchii,‭ ‬Batoidea,‭ ‬Sclerorhynchoidea,‭ ‬Sclerorhynchidae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

S.‭ ‬atavus‭

Size

Up to‭ ‬1‭ ‬meter long.

Known locations

USA and the Middle East.

Time Period

Late Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Several specimens.

In Depth

       Sclerorhynchus was in essence an ancient sawfish.‭ ‬The snout was long and specialised teeth projected out from the sides.‭ ‬This snout was probably the primary feeding aid in uncovering buried invertebrates like shell fish which could then be eaten by the mouth which was on the underside of‭ ‬the head.‭ ‬There has been some speculation that the genus Ganopristis may be the same as Sclerorhynchus.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Catalogue of the Fossil Fishes in the British Museum‭ (‬Natural History‭) ‬Part‭ ‬1‭ ‬1-613. – ‬A.‭ ‬S.‭ ‬Woodward – 1889..

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