Otodus obliquus

Taxobox
name = "Otodus"
fossil_range = Paleocene - Eocene

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Lamniformes
familia = Otodontidae
familia_authority = Glikman, 1964
genus = "Otodus"
species = "O. obliquus"
binomial = "Otodus obliquus"
binomial_authority = Agassiz, 1843

"Otodus obliquus" was a large prehistoric mackerel shark which lived during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs, approximately about 60 to 45 million years ago.

Known physiology

This shark is known from the fossil teeth and a few fossilized vertebral centra. [Citation|last=Bourdon|first=Jim|title=Otodus|url=http://www.elasmo.com/frameMe.html?file=genera/cenozoic/sharks/otodus.html&menu=bin/menu_genera-alt.html] Similar to all elasmobranchs, the skeleton of "Otodus" was composed of cartilage and not bone, resulting in relatively few preserved skeletal structures appearing within the fossil record. The teeth of this shark are large with smooth cutting edges, measuring up to 10 cm (4 inch) in slant length. [Citation|title=Otodus Obliquus Shark trivia|url=http://www.pangaeaindustries.com/libraryotodus.htm] Some "Otodus" teeth also show signs of evolving serrations.Citation|last=Renz|first=Mark|title=Megalodon: Hunting the Hunter|pages=26-30|publisher=PaleoPress|date=2002|isbn=0-9719477-0-8]

ize estimation

Scientists estimate that this shark could probably grow up to 9 meters (30 feet) long.

Diet

"Otodus"'s diet probably consisted of marine mammals, fish, and other sharks.

ee also

* Prehistoric fish

References