Sphenodus Temporal range:
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Skeleton of Sphenodus nitidus (SMNS 96844-7) from the Late Jurassic of Germany | |
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Tooth of Sphenodus nitidus | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Family: | † Orthacodontidae |
Genus: | †
Sphenodus Agassiz, 1843 |
Type species | |
Lamna (Sphenodus) longidens Agassiz, 1843
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Sphenodus is an extinct genus of shark. It is placed as a member of the extinct family Orthacodontidae, which is either considered to be a member of the extinct order Synechodontiformes, [1] or the modern shark order Hexanchiformes. [2] 29 species have been described, [3] though some of these are likely synonyms, which span from the Early Jurassic ( Sinemurian) to Paleocene ( Danian). [2] Most species are only known from isolated teeth, [2] though the species Sphenodus macer and Sphenodus nitidus from the Late Jurassic of Germany are known from skeletons. These suggest that it was relatively large, with a body length of 2–3 metres (6.6–9.8 ft), with a fusiform body with a single dorsal fin placed posteriorly without a fin spine. [1] The teeth of Sphenodus consist of a single long, narrow central cusp, with much smaller lateral cusplets. [2] Species of Sphenodus are thought to have been actively swimming predators. [1]