In Depth Scapanorhynchus appears to have been so much like the living goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) that the two were considered by some to be the same genus. However study of the teeth has brought the conclusion that while very similar, they are different enough to keep the two separated. The most striking feature of … Read more
In Depth Also known as the ‘Ginsu shark’, Cretoxyrhina was one of the biggest sharks of its time, considerably bigger even than its contemporary Squalicorax. Cretoxyrhina was near the top of the food chain, and it had a diet that included almost anything that was in front of it, including mosasaurs. There is also strong … Read more
In Depth Hybodus is instantly recognisable by the spike that rises up in front of its dorsal fins. The purpose of this has been explained as a form of defence from larger predators to display. With fossils dating back from the end of the Permian to the early Cretaceous and a cosmopolitan distribution, Hybodus must … Read more
In Depth Although a member of the same animal class as the sharks, Iniopteryx is thought to have been more like a chimaera. Not to be confused with the creature from Greek mythology, Chimearas are cartilaginous fish that separated from the sharks about four hundred million years ago and are sometimes called ghost sharks or … Read more
In Depth As an ancient member of the pristidae, Onchopristis would have been more closely related to rays than to sharks. Like modern day sawfish, Onchopristis would have used the rostrum that extended for as much as two and a half meters in front of it to sense prey. Once prey was detected, Onchopristis would … Read more
In Depth Sarcoprion appears to have been a similar kind of shark as the bizarre Helicoprion, but instead of having a circular ‘tooth-whorl’ like Helicoprion, Sarcoprion had more of a semi-circular whorl set upon its lower jaw. Sarcoprion may have rubbed this feature against prey that was pressed against the upper jaw, the lower teeth … Read more
In Depth Further Reading – Carboniferous fishes from the central western States – Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 39:163-226 – C. R. Eastman – 1903. – Two new Stethacanthid sharks (Stethacanthidae, Symmoriida) from the Pennsylvanian of Indiana, USA – Palaeontographica Abteilung A 213:115-141 – R. Zangerl – 1990. – Early Carboniferous Fishes (Acanthodian, … Read more
In Depth Ornithoprion was a carboniferous shark that was also related to the sharks Edestus, perhaps better known as the Scissor toothed shark, and Helicoprion. In fact it was the discovery of Ornithoprion that allowed for a more accurate reconstruction of Helicoprion with how the distinctive tooth-whorl fitted inside the mouth. Further Reading – A … Read more
In Depth Further Reading – Indications of five species, with two new genera, of extinct Fishes. – Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 7:414 – J. Liedy – 1855. – On the Occurrence of Edestus in the Coal-Measures of Britain. – Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society 60:1-9 – E. T. Newton … Read more
In Depth Tristychius is often described as being similar to a dogfish, and featured a strongly upturned caudal fin. Like many other early prehistoric sharks, Tristychius had spines in front of both the first and second dorsal fins. The highly developed nature of these spines suggests that they were for defence rather than to support … Read more