''Odontaspis'' (from 'tooth') and 'shield') is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of sand shark with two extant species.

Description

Odontaspis ferox-Requin Dents02-Montpellier-4819~2015 10 02

Bigeye sand tigers can reach a length of about and smalltooth sand tigers of about 4.1 m. They are large-bodied sharks with long, conical snouts, broad-based

dorsal Dorsal (from Latin ''dorsum'' ‘back’) may refer to: * Dorsal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location referring to the back or upper side of an organism or parts of an organism * Dorsal, positioned on top of an aircraft's fuselage The fus ...

and

anal fin Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the back bone and are supported o ...

s, and an asymmetrical

caudal fin Fins are moving appendages protruding from the body of fish that interact with water to generate thrust and help the fish swim. Apart from the tail or caudal fin, fish fins have no direct connection with the back bone and are supported only ...

with a strong lower lobe. Their

teeth A tooth (: teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, tear ...

are large, with prominent narrow cusps. They are distinguished from the similar genus ''

Carcharias ''Carcharias'', also known as sand tiger sharks, is a genus of mackerel sharks belonging to the family Carchariidae, of which it is the only extant member. Once bearing many prehistoric species, all have gone extinct with the exception of the cri ...

'' by the absence of crushing posterior teeth.Bourdon, J
''Odontaspis'' Agassiz 1838
''Elasmo.com''. Retrieved on December 24, 2008. These bottom dwelling, deepwater sharks can be found in temperate and tropical waters of all the oceans.

Extant species

* '' Odontaspis ferox'' ( A. Risso, 1810) (smalltooth sand tiger) * '' Odontaspis noronhai'' (

Maul A maul may refer to any number of large hammers, including: * War hammer, a medieval weapon * Post maul, a type of sledgehammer * Spike maul, railroad hand tool * Splitting maul, heavy wood-splitting tool resembling both axe and hammer People * A ...

, 1955) (bigeye sand tiger)

Extinct species

Extinct species within this genus include:Fossilworks
/ref> * ''Odontaspis aculeatus'' Capetta & Case, 1975 * ''Odontaspis speyeri'' (Dartevelle & Casier, 1943) * ''Odontaspis winkleri'' Leriche, 1905 Fossils of ''Odontaspis'' have been found all over the world. These extinct sand sharks lived from the

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

to the

Quaternary The Quaternary ( ) is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), as well as the current and most recent of the twelve periods of the ...

periods (from 136.4 to 0.012 Ma). Fossils of these fishes have been found worldwide.

References

{{Authority control Odontaspididae Extant Cretaceous first appearances Shark genera Taxa named by Louis Agassiz Mooreville Chalk

Description

Extant species

Extinct species

See also

References