Squalicorax

Taxobox
name = "Squalicorax"
fossil_range = Cretaceous

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Squalicorax" sp.
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
ordo = Lamniformes
familia = Anacoracidae
familia_authority = Cappetta,1987
genus = "Squalicorax"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text. "Squalicorax" ("crow shark") is a genus of extinct lamniform shark known to have lived during the Cretaceous period. A fully articulated (fully-formed) 1.9 m long fossil skeleton of "Squalicorax" ("S. falcatus") has been found in Kansas, evidence of its presence in the Western Interior Seaway. Large numbers of fossil teeth have been found in Europe, North Africa, and other parts of North America. From the size of its largest known teeth, it can be estimated that "Squalicorax pristodontus" grew to 5 m (16.5 ft) in length.

"Squalicorax" was a predator, but also scavenged as evidenced by a "Squalicorax" tooth found embedded in the metatarsal (foot) bone of a terrestrial hadrosaurid dinosaur that most likely died on land and ended up in the water. Other food sources included turtles, mosasaurs, ichthyodectes and other bony fishes and sea creatures.

pecies

* "Squalicorax bassanii" Gemmelaro 1920
* "Squalicorax curvatus" Williston 1900
* "Squalicorax falcatus" Agassiz 1843
* "Squalicorax kaupi" Agassiz 1843
* "Squalicorax pristodontus" Agassiz 1843

In Popular culture

Squalicorax is featured in Sea Monsters, although it was not identified in the show.

References

* H. Cappetta, "Handbook of Paleoichthyology" (Gustav Fischer, 1987)

External links

* [http://www.elasmo.com/frameMe.html?file=genera/cretaceous/squalicorax.html&menu=bin/menu_genera-alt.html Elasmo.com page on Squalicorax]