Palaeorhincodon

Palaeorhincodon
Temporal range:
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Division: Selachii
Superorder: Galeomorphi
Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Rhincodontidae
Genus: †
Species
  • P. daouii
  • P.dartvellei
  • P.wardi
  • P. ypresiensis

Palaeorhincodon is an extinct genus of prehistoric whale shark from the Paleocene and Eocene periods. It had a similar distribution range of modern whale sharks with teeth from Palaeorhincodon being found in warm water areas such as North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.[1] It's teeth are very small being only 3 millimeters in height. There are up to 300 files of teeth in each jaw of Palaeorhincodon.[2]

Ecology

It’s feeding differs from whale sharks as it not only feeds on plankton, but has been found to feed on small crustaceans, fish and squid.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Rhincodontidae". Fossilworks.
  2. ^ "elasmo.com". www.elasmo.com. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  3. ^ "elasmo.com". www.elasmo.com. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
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