Squatinactis
Sign in to saveSquatinactis is a genus of extinct elasmobranch chondrichthyan known from the Carboniferous aged Bear Gulch Limestone in Montana. This fish was discovered in 1974 by Richard Lund. The type specimen, named CMNH 46133, consists of a brain case, poorly preserved jaws and gills, a pectoral fin, and a partial vertebral axis. This creature's most startling feature were its broad pectoral fins which resembled those of stingrays and angel sharks (Squatina). The holotype specimen has about 15 teeth in its jaw. This creature is named after the angel shark. Remains found in the South Urals of Russia and
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Squatinactis NT small.jpg
Show 2 more facts
- taxon name
- Squatinactis
- Commons category
- Squatinactis
Sources (1)
via Wikidata · CC0
~3 min read
Article
4 sectionsContents
- Description
- Classification
- Ecology
- References
Squatinactis is a genus of extinct elasmobranch chondrichthyan known from the Carboniferous aged Bear Gulch Limestone in Montana. This fish was discovered in 1974 by Richard Lund. The type specimen, named CMNH 46133, consists of a brain case, poorly preserved jaws and gills, a pectoral fin, and a partial vertebral axis. This creature's most startling feature were its broad pectoral fins which resembled those of stingrays and angel sharks (Squatina). The holotype specimen has about 15 teeth in its jaw. This creature is named after the angel shark. Remains found in the South Urals of Russia and the Eyam Limestone of Derbyshire, England, have been tentatively identified as those belonging to S. caudispinatus.
== Description == Squatinactis had a flattened body with a set of large pectoral fins. This fish was vaguely similar to today's stingrays and angel sharks. The fins were oddly pointed forward, with a length of around two feet long. It also had a long, whip-like tail with a spine (a feature analogous to some rays) that was actually a modified, secondary dorsal fin. The snout was short and the wide mouth was equipped with a series of long conical cladodont-shaped teeth. The body was covered in a few placoid scales, but most of the surface was bare.