Palaeorhincodon
| Palaeorhincodon Temporal range:
| |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Division: | Selachii |
| Order: | Orectolobiformes |
| Family: | Rhincodontidae |
| Genus: | † |
| Species | |
| |
Palaeorhincodon is an extinct genus of prehistoric whale shark from the Paleocene and Eocene periods. It had a simular distribution range of modern whale sharks with teeth from Palaeorhincodon being found in warm water areas such as North America, Europe, Aisa, 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
- ^ "Rhincodontidae". Fossilworks.
- ^ "elasmo.com". www.elasmo.com. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "elasmo.com". www.elasmo.com. Retrieved 2025-06-01.