Palaeocarcharias
Palaeocarcharias Temporal range: Middle-Late Jurassic
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Specimens of P. stromeri from the Upper Jurassic of Germany | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Superorder: | Selachimorpha |
Order: | Lamniformes |
Genus: | †Palaeocarcharias Beaumont, 1960 |
Palaeocarcharias is an extinct genus of shark, known from the Middle-Late Jurassic of Europe. It has only a single named species, P. stromeri, which is known from exceptionally preserved specimens from the Late Jurassic (Tithonian) of Germany. Morphologically, it closely resembles carpet sharks (Orectolobiformes), and is around 1 metre (3.3 ft) in total body length. However, it shares greater similarities in tooth development with mackerel sharks (Lamniformes), including the absence of orthodentine, and is now considered to be the earliest known member of the Lamniformes.