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Skeletal anatomy of the Late Cretaceous shark,Squalicorax (Neoselachii: Anacoracidae)

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Abstract

The paleobiology of the Cretaceous neoselachian shark,Squalicorax, has largely been based on isolated teeth. We examined partial and nearly complete skeletons of three species ofSqualicorax, S. falcatus (Aoassiz),S. kaupi (Agassiz), andS. pristodontus (Agassiz), that were collected from the U.S.A. These specimens suggest that the total body length (TL) ofS. falcatus typically measured 1.8–2.0 m, and probably did not exceed 3 m. Moderatesized individuals ofS. kaupi andS. pristodontus perhaps measured about 3 m TL. AlthoughS. pristodontus was the largest form among the three species examined, this taxon possessed a set of large jaws (with large but fewer teeth) relative to its body size compared toS. falcatus orS. kaupi. This suggests that tooth size is not an accurate indicator of the TL if one compares oneSqualicorax species to another. Neurocranial features suggest that the vision ofSqualicorax was not as acute as that of a contemporaneous macrophagous lamniform shark,Cretoxyrhina mantelli (Agassiz) , but olfaction ofSqualicorax may have been better thanC. mantelli. The morphology of placoid scales suggests thatSqualicorax was capable of fast swimming. New skeletal data support the view that the feeding dynamics ofSqualicorax was similar to the modern tiger shark (Galeocerdo Müller & Henle). The present data do not allow for exact ordinal placement, but, contrary to some previous interpretations,Squalicorax can be excluded from the Hexanchiformes and Orectolobiformes. The taxon should more appropriately be placed within the Lamniformes or Carcharhiniformes.

Kurzfassung

Bisher basierte die Kenntnis zur Paläobiologie des kretazischen NeoselachiersSqualicorax weitgehend auf isolierten Zähnen. Neue Untersuchungen an fast vollständigen sowie Teil-Skeletten von drei Arten der GattungSqualicorax (S.falcatus (Agassiz),S. kaupi (Agassiz) undS. pristodontus (Agassiz)) aus verschiedenen Gebieten der U.S.A. zeigen, dass die Gesamtkörperlänge vonS. falcatus im Durchschnitt 1,8–2,0 m betrug und wahrscheinlich 3 m nicht überschritt. Mittelgroße Individuen vonS. kaupi undS. pristodontus maßen vermutlich etwa 3 m Gesamtlänge.S. pristodontus war die größte der drei untersuchten Arten und besaß verglichen mitS. falcatus oderS. kaupi im Verhältnis zur Gesamtkörpergröße relativ große Kieferknochen mit großen Zähnen, jedoch in einer geringeren Anzahl. Es zeigt sich, dass im Vergleich der Arten untereinander die Zahngröße kein besonders gutes Indiz zur Rekonstruktion der Gesamtkörperlänge ist. Merkmale des Neurocraniums belegen, dass das Sehvermögen vonSqualicorax nicht so scharf war wie das des zeitgleich lebenden makrophagen lamniformen HaisCretoxyrhina mantelli (Agassiz), jedoch der Geruchssinn vonSqualicorax möglicherweise besser ausgebildet war als beiC. mantelli. Die Morphologie der Placoidschuppen deutet an, dassSqualicorax ein schneller Schwimmer war. Neue Daten zur Skelett-Morphologie bestätigen die Ansicht, dass das Fressverhalten vonSqualicorax dem des rezenten Tigerhais (Galeocerdo Muller & Henle) ähnelte. Die vorliegenden Daten geben keine genauen Hinweise zur systematischen Einordnung vonSqualicorax, allerdings kann eine Eingruppierung in die Hexanchiformes und Orectolobiformes, im Gegensatz zu früheren Ansichten, ausgeschlossen werden; eine Zuordnung zu den Lamniformes oder Carcharhiniformes kommt eher in Betracht.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Science Program and Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, 2325 North Clifton Avenue, 60614, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

    Kenshu Shimada

  2. Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, 3000 Sternberg Drive, 67601, Hays, Kansas, U.S.A.

    Kenshu Shimada

  3. Bob Campbell Geology Museum, Clemson University, 103 Garden Trail, 29634, Clemson, South Carolina, U.S.A.

    David J. Cicimurri

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  1. Kenshu Shimada
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  2. David J. Cicimurri
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Correspondence to Kenshu Shimada.

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Shimada, K., Cicimurri, D.J. Skeletal anatomy of the Late Cretaceous shark,Squalicorax (Neoselachii: Anacoracidae). Paläontol. Z. 79, 241–261 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02990187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02990187

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