Odontaspis
Genus of sharks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Odontaspis (from Greek: ὀδούς odoús 'tooth') and Greek: ἀσπίς aspís 'shield')[2] is a genus of sand shark with two extant species.
| Odontaspis Temporal range: [1] | |
|---|---|
| |
| Smalltooth sand tiger (O. ferox) | |
 | |
| Bigeye sand tiger (O. noronhai) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Division: | Selachii |
| Order: | Lamniformes |
| Family: | Odontaspididae |
| Genus: | Odontaspis Agassiz, 1838 |
| Type species | |
| Carcharias ferox Risso, 1826 | |
Description
Bigeye sand tigers can reach a length of about 3.6 metres (12 ft) and smalltooth sand tigers of about 4.1 m.
They are large-bodied sharks with long, conical snouts, broad-based dorsal and anal fins, and an asymmetrical caudal fin with a strong lower lobe.
Their teeth are large, with prominent narrow cusps.[3]
They are distinguished from the similar genus Carcharias by the absence of crushing posterior teeth.[4]
These bottom dwelling, deepwater sharks can be found in temperate and tropical waters of all the oceans.[4]
Extant species
- Odontaspis ferox (A. Risso, 1810) (smalltooth sand tiger)
- Odontaspis noronhai (Maul, 1955) (bigeye sand tiger)
Extinct species
Extinct species within this genus include:[1]
- 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 to the Quaternary periods (from 136.4 to 0.012 Ma). Fossils of these fishes have been found worldwide.[1]
