Sharks are one of the most fascinating creatures in the ocean, with over 500 species known to exist today. However, many species of sharks have gone extinct over the course of millions of years.
In this article, we will explore 11 types of sharks that went extinct, including the famous Megalodon, Cladoselache, and Stethacanthus. Many of these extinct sharks lived over millions of years ago, and their modern cousins are much smaller.
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Additionally, a shark’s extinction can have a significant impact on the ocean’s ecosystem. Unfortunately, overfishing has endangered over one third of today’s sharks, so the fight isn’t over yet.
We need to help reduce overfishing and climate change before it’s too late, so that many more sharks aren’t added to this list of 11 types of sharks that went extinct. Read on for the top facts about the most interesting extinct sharks.
11 Types Of Sharks That Went Extinct
Megalodon
Megalodon, meaning “big tooth,” is an extinct species of mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago, from the Early Miocene to the Pliocene epochs.
It was formerly thought to be a member of the family Lamnidae and a close relative of the great white shark, but has been reclassified into the extinct family Otodontidae, which diverged from the great white shark during the Early Cretaceous.
Megalodon is considered to be the largest shark, and the largest fish, that ever lived. Tooth-shape similarities between megalodon and modern great white sharks suggest that the two species may have been close relatives, and thus megalodon likely resembled that species in appearance—that is, as a bulky torpedo-shaped fish with a conical snout, large pectoral and dorsal fins, and a strong crescent-shaped tail.
Estimates of body length are calculated using the statistical relationship between the size of megalodon’s fossil teeth and the teeth and body mass of modern white sharks and other living relatives.
This data suggests that mature adult megalodons had a mean length of 10.2 meters (about 33.5 feet), the largest specimens measuring 17.9 meters (58.7 feet) long.
Scientists differ on whether it would have more closely resembled a stockier version of the great white shark, the basking shark, or the sand tiger shark.
Megalodon had to be able to open its mouth wide to tackle prey as large as whales. It is estimated that its jaw would span 2.7 by 3.4 meters wide, easily big enough to swallow two adult people side-by-side.
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Megalodon had 276 teeth, and studies reconstructing the shark’s bite force suggest that it may have been one of the most powerful predators ever to have existed.
Cladoselache
Cladoselache is an extinct genus of shark-like chondrichthyan from the Late Devonian of North America. Here are some interesting facts about Cladoselache:
– Cladoselache was similar in body shape to modern lamnid sharks, such as mako sharks and the great white shark, but was not closely related to lamnids or to any other modern shark.
– Growing to several meters in length, Cladoselache is considered to have been a fast-moving and fairly agile marine predator due to its streamlined body and deeply forked tail.
– Cladoselache was one of the earliest vertebrates known to have had shark-like tooth.
– Unlike larger forms, Cladoselache’s mouth opened at the front of the skull, rather than beneath it, and both its pectoral and pelvic fins were broadly attached to its body. These features suggest that this shark, while less maneuverable than larger sharks, was a high-speed predator.
– Two dorsal fins were present along the midline, and strong spines were developed behind the head and at the base of the pectoral fins.
– Cladoselache is a good representative of early sharks.
– The name Cladoselache comes from the ancient Greek and Latin roots clado, meaning “branch,” and selache, meaning “shark” .
– Remarkably well-preserved specimens from the Cleveland Shale of Ohio support the notion that Cladoselache was specialized as a high-speed predator.
– Cladoselache was a predatory shark, and the well-preserved fossils found on the Cleveland Shale revealed a significant amount regarding its eating habits.
Stethacanthus
Stethacanthus is an extinct genus of shark-like holocephalians that lived from the Late Devonian to Late Carboniferous epoch, dying out around 298.9 million years ago. Here are some interesting facts about Stethacanthus:
– Fossils of Stethacanthus have been found in Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America.
– Stethacanthus had unique pelvic girdles, single-crowned and non-growing scales, a pectoral fin composed of metapterygium with an accompanying ‘whip’ attached, and a distinctive first dorsal fin and spine, termed the spine-brush complex.
– The neurocranium had a narrow suborbital shelf, a broad supraorbital shelf, a short otico-occipital division, large orbits, and cladodontic teeth that aligned precisely.
– Stethacanthus also had male pelvic claspers with non-prismatic calcified cartilage at the distal ends.
– Stethacanthus was a small, primitive shark-like holocephalian that looked similar to some of the shark species that would evolve later, like Hybodus.
– Stethacanthus was approximately 70 centimeters long.
– Stethacanthus means “chest spine” after its most famous feature.
– Stethacanthus was both a predator and prey for the many larger sharks around at the time.
– Stethacanthus is colloquially known as the Ironing-Board Shark.
– In most ways, Stethacanthus was an unremarkable prehistoric shark of the late Devonian and early Carboniferous periods.
Taxonomic relationships are hard to define for Stethacanthus as there is much variability in the characteristics of the discovered specimens.
Orthacanthus
Orthacanthus is an extinct genus of freshwater xenacanthid sharks that lived from the Upper Carboniferous until the Lower Permian, approximately 250 million years ago. Here are some interesting facts about Orthacanthus:
– Orthacanthus was named by Louis Agassiz in 1836.
– Orthacanthus had a nektobenthic life habitat, with a carnivorous diet.
– During the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian, Orthacanthus was an apex predator of freshwater swamps and bayous in Europe and North America.
– Mature Orthacanthus reached nearly 3 meters (10 feet) in length.
– Orthacanthus teeth have a minimum of three cusps, two principal cusps, and an intermediate cusp, where the principal cusps are variously serrated, with complex base morphology.
– Multiple sources have discovered evidence of cannibalism in the diet of Orthacanthus and of “filial cannibalism” where adult Orthacanthus preyed upon juvenile Orthacanthus.
– Orthacanthus is a genus of prehistoric freshwater shark that lived during the Permian Age.
– Orthacanthus was also a member of a group of ancient sharks called xenacanthids.
– Xenacanthid teeth are usually tricuspid, which means they have three cusps on.
– The Orthacanthus was an ancient freshwater shark that is no longer in existence.
Overall, Orthacanthus was an important predator in the freshwater ecosystems of the Carboniferous and Permian periods, and its fossils provide valuable insights into the evolution of sharks.
Xenacanthus
Xenacanthus is an extinct genus of freshwater sharks that lived from the Carboniferous to the Triassic period, approximately 250 to 200 million years ago. Here are some interesting facts about Xenacanthus:
– Xenacanthus is a genus of prehistoric xenacanths, and fossils of various species have been found worldwide.
– Xenacanthus was a carnivorous genus of freshwater sharks that fed on smaller fish and crustaceans.
– Xenacanthus had a distinctive V-shaped teeth, indicating that members of Xenacanthus likely fed on small crustaceans and fish.
– Almost everything scientists know about Xenacanthus is based upon the fossilized remains of their teeth and spines, with few preserved bodies actually found.
– Xenacanthus were freshwater sharks, growing between one and two meters long.
– They possessed a ribbon-like dorsal fin that ran the entire length of their back, resembling modern conger eels.
– The highly unusual dorsal fin spine can tell us a lot about the biology of these animals. Studies have shown that the spine grew with annulated rings as the animal aged, allowing scientists to simply count the number of years the animal was alive.
– Xenacanthus is an extinct genus of prehistoric shark, and unique to this group is the modified dorsal spine that projected from the back of their heads.
– The foundation of the tooth is prolonged lingually with a circlet button and a basal tubercle on the oral and aboral surfaces individually.
– Xenacanthida’s teeth are famed by articulated bones, cephalic vertebrae, and isolated teeth and found globally in each aquatic and clean environment.
– The family Xenacanthidae consists of five genera that are Xenacanthus, Triodus, Plicatodus, Orthacanthus, and Diplodoselache.
Overall, Xenacanthus was an important predator in the freshwater ecosystems of the Carboniferous and Triassic periods, and its fossils provide valuable insights into the evolution of sharks.
Hybodus
Hybodus is an extinct genus of hybodont, a group of shark-like elasmobranchs that lived from the Late Devonian to the end of the Cretaceous. Here are some interesting facts about Hybodus:
– Hybodus is a genus of prehistoric hybodont sharks that lived during the late Permian to late Cretaceous periods.
– The name Hybodus means “humped tooth” in Greek, referring to the shape of its teeth.
– Hybodus had a distinctive spike that rose up in front of its dorsal fins, which has been explained as a form of defense from predators.
– Hybodus was a small shark, typically growing to around 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length.
– Hybodus had a streamlined body and a long, pointed snout, which suggests that it was a fast swimmer and an active predator.
– Hybodus had sharp, pointed teeth that were well-suited for catching and eating fish and other small aquatic animals.
– Numerous species have been assigned to Hybodus spanning a large period of time, and it is currently considered a wastebasket taxon that is “broadly polyphyletic” and requires reexamination.
– The first fossilized teeth from Hybodus were found in England around 1845, and since then teeth (and dorsal spines) have been found all over the world.
– Hybodus is closely related to the type species Hybodus reticulatus, which lived during the Early Jurassic epoch.
– Hybodus kansaiensis is a species of Hybodus that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in Japan.
– In the video game Final Fantasy XIV, Hybodus is a mount that players can obtain.
Overall, Hybodus was an important predator in the oceans of the Mesozoic era, and its fossils provide valuable insights into the evolution of sharks.
Ptychodus
Ptychodus is a genus of extinct sharks from the Late Cretaceous period. Here are some interesting facts about Ptychodus:
– Ptychodus is a genus of extinct durophagous (shell-crushing) sharks from the Late Cretaceous.
– Fossils of Ptychodus teeth are found in many Late Cretaceous marine sediments, and there are many species among the Ptychodus that have been uncovered on all the continents around the globe.
– Some of the species of Ptychodus include Ptychodus mortoni, P. decurrens, P. marginalis, P. mammillaris, P. rugosus, and P. latissimus.
– Ptychodus teeth have long been identified as being adapted for crushing shells rather than tearing through flesh.
– Ptychodus is a genus of durophagous (shell-crushing) sharks from the Late Cretaceous, and their teeth have been collected on all continents.
– Due to its global distribution, Ptychodus is well represented in the fossil record, with many fossils having been uncovered such as isolated teeth, fragments of dentition, calcified vertebral centra, denticles, and associated fragments of calcified cartilage.
– The very first remains of Ptychodus were found in England and Germany in the first half of the 18th century.
– Ptychodus atcoensis is a characteristic Late Cretaceous durophagous shark, with a fossil record that was previously known exclusively from Venezuela.
– Ptychodus occidentalis is a species of Ptychodus that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in North America.
– Ptychodus teeth are transversely ellipsoidal in outline at the base of the crown, and this appears as a low cone elevated at the inner third and with a broad expanding base.
Overall, Ptychodus was an important predator in the oceans of the Late Cretaceous period, and its fossils provide valuable insights into the evolution of sharks.
Helicoprion
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Helicoprion is an extinct genus of shark-like eugeneodont fish that lived from the Devonian to Triassic periods. Here are some interesting facts about Helicoprion:
– Almost all fossil specimens of Helicoprion are of spirally arranged clusters of the individuals’ teeth, called “tooth whorls”, which in life were embedded in the lower jaw.
– The tooth whorls of Helicoprion are unique among sharks and other fishes, and their function has been the subject of much debate among paleontologists.
– Russian geologist Alexander Petrovich Karpinsky coined the name Helicoprion in 1899.
– Helicoprion is an extinct genus of shark-like eugeneodont fish, a group of extinct cartilaginous fishes.
– Members of Eugenodontida possess a unique tooth-whorl arrangement, with the teeth arranged in a spiral pattern.
– Helicoprion is known for its unusual spiral-shaped tooth whorls, which were originally thought to be part of the fish’s dorsal fin or even its nose.
– The best-preserved specimen of Helicoprion is IMNH 37899 (also known as “Idaho 4”), referred to Helicoprion davisii. It was found in Idaho in 1950 and was originally described in 1966 by Svend Erik Bendix-Almgreen.
– A 2013 redescription by Tapanila and colleagues was accompanied by CT scanning, in order to reveal the cartilaginous remains in more detail.
– Helicoprion was an archaic member of the wider ratfish group that looked quite shark-like.
– Helicoprion is an extinct genus of shark-like fishes that lived during the Devonian before going extinct in the Early Triassic Period.
– The helicoprion swam in the ocean’s depths about 270 million years ago, and around 235 million years ago, they became extinct.
Overall, Helicoprion is a fascinating and mysterious extinct fish, known for its unique tooth whorls that have puzzled paleontologists for over a century.
Carcharocles angustidens
Carcharocles angustidens is an extinct species of megatoothed shark that lived during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs about 33 to 22 million years ago. Here are some interesting facts about Carcharocles angustidens:
– Carcharocles angustidens is related to another extinct megatoothed shark, Otodus megalodon.
– The largest individuals of Carcharocles angustidens were about 11-12 meters (36-39 feet) long.
– Carcharocles angustidens is the direct ancestor to the extinct giant white shark, Carcharocles megalodon.
– Fossils of Carcharocles angustidens teeth have been found all over the world, and they are highly sought after by collectors.
– Carcharocles angustidens is an extinct species of megatoothed shark belonging to the genus Carcharocles.
– Carcharocles angustidens is the direct ancestor to the extinct giant white shark, Carcharocles megalodon.
– A discovery of the best-preserved Carcharocles angustidens specimen to date was made in 2001 by two scientists, Michael D. Gottfried and Ewan Fordyce.
– The team presented the discovery as evidence for close morphological ties with the extant great white shark, and argued that Carcharocles angustidens, along with all other related megatooth sharks, including Carcharocles megalodon, should be assigned to Carcharodon as was done before by Louis Agassiz.
– However, this is not internationally accepted by the scientific community.
– A megatoothed shark (Carcharocles angustidens) nursery was discovered in the Oligocene Charleston Embayment, South Carolina, USA.
Overall, Carcharocles angustidens is an important species in the evolution of megatoothed sharks, and its fossils provide valuable insights into the prehistoric oceans.
Scapanorhynchus
Scapanorhynchus is an extinct genus of shark that lived from the early Cretaceous until possibly the Miocene if S. subulatus is a mitsukurinid and not a sand shark. Here are some interesting facts about Scapanorhynchus:
– Scapanorhynchus had an elongated, albeit flattened snout and sharp awl-shaped teeth ideal for seizing fish, or tearing chunks of flesh from its prey.
– Scapanorhynchus normally did not exceed total length 4.15 meters (13.6 ft), although the largest teeth with a length of 5.5 cm (2.2 in) suggest a total length of 6.6 meters (22 ft).
– Complete skeletons of Scapanorhynchus lewisii (with paddlefish-like rostrums) are known from Lebanon, and that species appears to be very similar to the living goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni.
– Scapanorhynchus is an extinct genus of shark that lived from the early Cretaceous until possibly the Miocene if S. subulatus is a mitsukurinid and not a sand shark.
– Scapanorhynchus had an elongated, albeit flattened snout and sharp awl-shaped teeth ideal for seizing fish, or tearing chunks of flesh from its prey.
– Scapanorhynchus is known from fossils found in many parts of the world, including Lebanon, Mississippi, and Utah.
– Scapanorhynchus is thought to have been a deep-water species that hunted in the darkness where sunlight could not penetrate, similar to the living goblin shark.
– Scapanorhynchus rapax is a species of Scapanorhynchus that was first described in 1902.
– Scapanorhynchus rhaphiodon is another species of Scapanorhynchus that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in Utah.
– Scapanorhynchus texanus is a species of Scapanorhynchus that lived during the Cretaceous period in Mississippi.
Overall, Scapanorhynchus is an important genus of extinct sharks that provides valuable insights into the evolution of sharks and their adaptations to different environments.
Squalicorax
Squalicorax, commonly known as the crow shark, is an extinct genus of lamniform shark that lived during the Cretaceous period, approximately 70-100 million years ago. Here are some interesting facts about Squalicorax:
– Squalicorax had a global distribution in the Late Cretaceous epoch, and multiple species within this genus are considered to be wastebasket taxon due to morphological similarities in the teeth.
– The name Squalicorax is derived from the Latin squalus for shark and the Greek κόραξ, “korax” for raven.
– Squalicorax was a coastal predator, but also scavenged as evidenced by a Squalicorax tooth found embedded in the metatarsal (foot) bone of a terrestrial hadrosaurid dinosaur that most likely died on land and ended up in the water.
– Other food sources for Squalicorax included turtles, mosasaurs, ichthyodectids, and other bony fishes and sea creatures.
– Squalicorax was typically about seven feet in length, although some species could grow slightly larger.
– Fossils of Squalicorax have been found all over the world, including in North America, New Zealand, Japan, Africa, Europe, Kazakhstan, and Jordan.
– Squalicorax is classified as a lamniform shark with carcharhinoid-like adaptations.
– Squalicorax is the state fossil of Minnesota, where it was abundant in the ancient seas that covered the region during the Cretaceous period.
– Squalicorax is a member of the family Anacoracidae, which includes other extinct sharks such as Cretoxyrhina and Cretalamna.
– Squalicorax is a fascinating example of a prehistoric shark that provides valuable insights into the evolution of sharks and their adaptations to different environments.
Overall, Squalicorax was an important predator in the coastal ecosystems of the Cretaceous period, and its fossils provide valuable insights into the prehistoric oceans.
FAQS
1. What are the 11 types of sharks that went extinct?
The 11 types of sharks that went extinct are Megalodon, Cladoselache, Stethacanthus, Orthacanthus, Xenacanthus, Hybodus, Ptychodus, Scapanorhynchus, Squalicorax, Carcharocles auriculatus, and Carcharocles chubutensis.
2. Why did these sharks go extinct?
The reasons for the extinction of these sharks are not fully understood, but factors such as climate change, competition for resources, and changes in oceanic conditions may have played a role.
3. Are there any living relatives of these extinct sharks?
Yes, many of these extinct sharks have living relatives, such as the great white shark, which is related to Megalodon.
4. How do we know about these extinct sharks?
We know about these extinct sharks from their fossilized remains, which have been found all over the world.
5. What can we learn from studying these extinct sharks?
Studying these extinct sharks can provide valuable insights into the evolution of sharks and their adaptations to different environments. It can also help us understand the impact of environmental changes on marine ecosystems.
6. Are sharks still in danger of extinction today?
Yes, many species of sharks are currently threatened with extinction due to overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. It is important to take action to protect these important predators and maintain the health of our oceans.
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