Odontaspis

Odontaspis is a genus of sand shark with two extant species.

Odontaspis
Temporal range: Cretaceous - Present [1]
Smalltooth sand tiger (O. ferox)
Bigeye sand tiger (O. noronhai)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: Lamniformes
Family: Odontaspididae
Genus: Odontaspis
Agassiz, 1838
Type species
Carcharias ferox
Risso, 1826

Description
The prominent cusps of one Odontaspis species (O. ferox).

Bigeye sand tigers can reach a length of about 3.6 metres (12 ft) and smalltooth saad tigers of about 4.1 m.

They are large-bodied sharks with long, conical snouts, broad-based dorsal and anal fins, and an asymmetrical caudal fin with a strong lower lobe.

Their teeth are large, with prominent narrow cusps.[2]

They are distinguished from the similar genus Carcharias by the absence of crushing posterior teeth.[3]

These bottom dwelling, deepwater sharks can be found in temperate and tropical waters of all the oceans.[3]

Extant species

Extinct species

Extinct species within this genus include:[1]

  • Odontaspis aculeatus Capetta & Case, 1975
  • Odontaspis speyeri (Dartevelle & Casier, 1943)
  • Odontaspis winkleri Leriche, 1905
Fossil teeth of Odontaspis winkleri from Khouribga (Morocco), 55-45 mya

Fossils of Odontaspis have been found all over the world. These extinct sand sharks lived from the Cretaceous to the Quaternary periods (from 136.4 to 0.012 Ma). Fossils of these fishes have been found worldwide.[1]

See also
  • List of prehistoric cartilaginous fish

References
  1. Fossilworks
  2. Compagno, L.J.V. (1984). Sharks of the World: An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of Shark Species Known to Date. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. ISBN 92-5-101384-5.
  3. Bourdon, J. Odontaspis Agassiz 1838. Elasmo.com. Retrieved on December 24, 2008.
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