- Listracanthus
Taxobox
name = "Listracanthus"
status = fossil
fossil_range =Late Carboniferous toTriassic
image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Listracanthus hystrix"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis =Chondrichthyes
subclassis = ?Holocephali
ordo =Eugeneodontida
familia =Edestidae
genus = "Listracanthus""Listracanthus" is a genus of extinct cartilaginous fish related to "Edestus ". They are known primarily from their tremendous, feather-likedenticle s, which range up to four inches in length. The denticles had a large main spine, with secondary spines emanating from the sides, like a feather or a comb. "Listracanthus" first appeared in lateCarboniferous strata in North America, and eventually disappear from the fossil record some time during the LateTriassic , making it one of the longest-lived genera in the familyEdestidae .The appearance of these sharks are largely unknown. However, author and illustrator
Ray Troll mentions in his book, Sharkabet, about how paleontologistRainer Zangerl once discovered a large shale slab containing a long, eel-like fish covered in long, spine-like denticles, only to have it dry out and crumble into dust. As such, according to Zangerl's account, Troll reconstructs "Listracanthus" as resembling a tremendous, fiercely-bristled frill shark.
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