Xenacanthus

Taxobox
name = "Xenacanthus"
fossil_range = Devonian–Triassic
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Chondrichthyes
subclassis = Elasmobranchii
ordo = Xenacanthida
familia = Xenacanthidae
genus = "Xenacanthus"
synonyms = "Pleuracanthus"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

"Xenacanthus" is a genus of prehistoric sharks, belonging to the family Xenacanthidae and the order Xenacanthida. The first species of the genus lived in the later Devonian period, and they survived until the end of the Triassic, 202 million years ago. These freshwater species had a long spine at the back of their head. As in all fossil sharks, "Xenacanthus" is mainly known because of fossilised teeth and spines.

Species in the genus "Xenacanthus"

* "Xenacanthus atriossis"
* "Xenacanthus compressus"
* "Xenacanthus decheni"
* "Xenacanthus denticulatus"
* "Xenacanthus erectus"
* "Xenacanthus gibbosus"
* "Xenacanthus gracilis"
* "Xenacanthus howsei"
* "Xenacanthus laevissimus"
* "Xenacanthus latus"
* "Xenacanthus luedernesis"
* "Xenacanthus moorei"
* "Xenacanthus ossiani"
* "Xenacanthus ovalis"
* "Xenacanthus parallelus"
* "Xenacanthus parvidens"
* "Xenacanthus robustus"
* "Xenacanthus serratus"
* "Xenacanthus slaughteri"
* "Xenacanthus taylori"

References