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Pristiophoriformes (saw shark)

Chondrichthyes - Pristiophoriformes

Taxonomy
Pristiophoriformes was named by Berg (1958). It is extant.

It was corrected as Pristiophoriphormes by Cappetta (1987).

It was assigned to Chondrichthyes by Purdy et al. (2001), Sepkoski (2002); to Neoselachii by Underwood (2006); to Squatinida by Nelson et al. (2016); to Squalomorphii by Cappetta (1987), Long (1992), Engelbrecht et al. (2017); to Squalomorphi by van der Laan (2019); and to Elasmobranchii by Landau et al. (2025).

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1958Pristiophoriformes Berg
1987Pristiophoriphormes Cappetta
1992Pristiophoriformes Long p. 20
2001Pristiophoriformes Purdy et al. p. 88
2002Pristiophoriformes Sepkoski
2006Pristiophoriformes Underwood p. 234
2016Pristiophoriformes Nelson et al. p. 80
2017Pristiophoriformes Engelbrecht et al. p. 843
2019Pristiophoriformes van der Laan p. 44
2025Pristiophoriformes Landau et al. p. 33

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
RankNameAuthor
superclassGnathostomata
classChondrichthyes
infraclassElasmobranchii(Bonaparte 1838)
superorderSqualomorphi(Compagno 1973)
orderPristiophoriformesBerg 1958
orderPristiophoriformesBerg 1958

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Or. Pristiophoriformes Berg 1958 [saw shark]
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G. †Ikamuius Keyes 1979
Fm. Pristiophoridae Bleeker 1859
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Subfm. †Pliotrematinae Fowler 1947
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G. †Ikamauius Keyes 1979
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†Ikamauius ensiler Davis 1888
G. †Pochitaserra Villafaña et al. 2025
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†Pochitaserra patriciacanalae Villafaña et al. 2025
G. Pristiophorus Bleeker 1859
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†Pristiophorus humboldti Villafaña et al. 2019
†Pristiophorus laevis Engelbrecht et al. 2017
†Pristiophorus lineatus Applegate and Uyeno 1968
†Pristiophorus napierensis Chapman 1918
†Pristiophorus pricei Cappetta et al. 2019
†Pristiophorus rupeliensis Steurbaut and Herman 1978
Pristiophorus schroederi Springer and Bullis 1960 [Bahamas sawshark]
†Pristiophorus smithi Cappetta et al. 2019
†Pristiophorus striatus Underwood and Schlogl 2013
†Pristiophorus tumidens Woodward 1932
Invalid names: Propristiophorus Woodward 1932 [synonym]
Invalid names: Pristiophorinae Bleeker 1859 [empty]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinesubp
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: nektobenthico
Diet: carnivoreo
Created: 2009-07-21 07:11:14
Modified: 2009-07-21 09:11:14
Source: o = order, subp = subphylum
References: Wagner 2023, Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Late/Upper Santonian to the top of the Gelasian or 85.70000 to 1.80000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 83.6 Ma

Collections (145 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Late/Upper Santonian85.7 - 83.6Lebanon Pristiophorus tumidens (92241)
Campanian83.6 - 72.2New Zealand (South Island) Trygon ensifer (101382)
Late/Upper Campanian83.6 - 72.2Canada (British Columbia) Pristiophorus smithi (221572) Pristiophorus smithi, Pristiophorus pricei (221571)
Late/Upper Campanian83.6 - 72.2Israel Pristiophorus sp. (35443)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian72.2 - 66.0Madagascar (Mahajanga) Pristiophorus sp. (144918)
Late/Upper Maastrichtian72.2 - 66.0Morocco Pristiophorus sp. (99627)
Early/Lower Eocene56.0 - 48.07Jordan Pristiophorus sp. (65225)
Ypresian - Lutetian56.0 - 41.03Denmark Pristiophorus lanceolatus (180458)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03France Pristiophorus lacipidinensis (61215 74858)
Lutetian48.07 - 41.03Antarctica Pristiophorus lanceolatus (278149)
Lutetian - Bartonian48.07 - 37.71Argentina (Santa Cruz) Pristiophorus sp. (230272 230274)
Bortonian42.6 - 39.1New Zealand (South Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204230)
Bortonian - Kaiatan42.6 - 36.7New Zealand (Chatham Islands) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (63106)
Bortonian - Runangan42.6 - 34.6New Zealand Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204249)
Bartonian41.03 - 37.71Antarctica (Seymour Island) Pristiophorus laevis (53666 176085)
Bartonian41.03 - 37.71Antarctica Pristiophorus laevis (52067 100414 149634 191917 278283 278284 278285) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (31173 275712 278153 278154)
Kaiatan39.1 - 36.7New Zealand (South Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204233)
Kaiatan39.1 - 36.7New Zealand Pristiophorus lanceolatus (74594)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Antarctica (Seymour Island) Pristiophorus sp. (100290)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Japan (Hokkaido) Pristiophorus lineatus (202922)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Egypt Pristiophorus sp. (137550 137551 137553 137569 137574)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Antarctica Pristiophorus laevis (100419) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (278014)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Jordan Pristiophorus sp. (32899)
Priabonian37.71 - 33.9Chile Pristiophorus sp. (99478)
Whaingaroan34.6 - 27.3New Zealand (South Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204237 204238 204239 204240 204241)
Rupelian33.9 - 27.3Belgium Pristiophorus rupeliensis (276448 277427 277428 277429 277430 277464)
Rupelian33.9 - 27.3USA (South Carolina) Pristiophorus sp. (224900)
Duntroonian27.3 - 25.2New Zealand Pristiophorus lanceolatus (152359)
Duntroonian27.3 - 25.2New Zealand (North Otago) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (63049)
Duntroonian27.3 - 25.2New Zealand (South Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204235)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04New Zealand (South Otago) Pristiophorus lanceolatus, Trygon ensifer, Lamna lanceolata (45653)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04Australia (Victoria) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (174143)
Chattian27.3 - 23.04USA (California) Pristiophorus sp. (11601)
Waitakian25.2 - 21.7New Zealand (South Island) Ikamauius ensifer (202248) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204231 204234)
Waitakian25.2 - 21.7New Zealand Ikamauius ensifer (74595)
Aquitanian23.04 - 20.45Colombia (La Guajira) Pristiophorus sp. (182218)
Early/Lower Miocene23.04 - 15.98Chile Pristiophorus humboldti (241729) Pristiophorus sp. (277316 277317)
Aquitanian - Langhian23.04 - 13.82USA (North Carolina) Pristiophorus sp. (48887)
Early/Lower Miocene - Middle Miocene23.04 - 11.63Australia (Victoria) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (51330)
Miocene23.04 - 5.333New Zealand (South Island) Trygon ensifer, Lamna lanceolata (202913 202915)
Otaian21.7 - 18.7New Zealand (North Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204245)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Belgium Pristiophorus sp. (208831)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Germany Pristiophorus striatus (237480 278376 278377) Pristiophorus suevicus (277549)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Colombia (La Guajira) Pristiophoridae sp. (166506)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Germany (Bavaria) Pristiophorus sp. (210593)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Slovakia Pristiophorus striatus (161899 161900 161901 161902)
Altonian18.7 - 15.9New Zealand (South Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204232 204236 204242)
Langhian15.98 - 13.82Portugal (Penedo) Pristiophorus suevicus (161620)
Langhian15.98 - 13.82Australia (Victoria) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (174139)
Langhian15.98 - 13.82France Pristiophorus suevicus (277771)
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Japan (Gifu) Pristiophorus sp. (161445)
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Japan Pristiophorus sp. (161492)
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Japan (Hokuriku) Pristiophorus sp. (161496)
Serravallian13.82 - 11.63Spain Pristiophorus sp. (277544)
Serravallian13.82 - 11.63France Pristiophorus suevicus (85338 277907 277908 277909 277910 277911 277912)
Serravallian13.82 - 11.63France (Gironde) Pristiophorus suevicus (161524 161527)
Waiauan13.05 - 11.04New Zealand (South Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204243)
Waiauan13.05 - 11.04New Zealand Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204244)
Tortonian11.63 - 7.246Peru Pristiophorus sp. (45486)
Tortonian11.63 - 7.246Panama (Colon) Pristiophorus sp. (160781)
Tortonian11.63 - 7.246Chile Pristiophoridae indet., Pochitaserra patriciacanalae (275717)
Tortonian11.63 - 7.246Portugal Pristiophorus suevicus (276004)
Late/Upper Miocene11.63 - 5.333Netherlands (Noord-Brabant) Pristiophorus sp. (162679)
Late/Upper Miocene - Early/Lower Pliocene11.63 - 3.6Chile (Copiapó) Pristiophorus sp. (224050)
Tortonian - Zanclean11.63 - 3.6Ecuador Pristiophorus sp. (204352)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Chile Pristiophorus sp. (114474)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Portugal (Alvalade) Pristiophorus sp. (65955)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Japan (Chiba) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (202927)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Panama (Colon) Pristiophorus sp. (231894)
Messinian7.246 - 5.333Australia (Victoria) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (46167)
Messinian - Zanclean7.246 - 3.6Japan Pristiophorus sp. (278438)
Messinian - Zanclean7.246 - 3.6Japan (Chiba) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (70006)
Messinian - Piacenzian7.246 - 2.58Australia (South Australia) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (50343)
Kapitean7.2 - 5.333New Zealand (North Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204248)
Opoitian5.333 - 3.7New Zealand (North Island) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204246)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6USA (California) Pristiophorus sp. (50068)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6Spain Pristiophorus sp. (277521)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6Belgium Pristiophorus schroederi (277863 277864)
Zanclean5.333 - 3.6Italy Pristiophorus sp. (206310 276542)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.58Japan (Okinawa-Jima) Pristiophorus japonicus (161452)
Waipipian3.7 - 3.0New Zealand (North Island) Ikamauius ensifer (197245 202250) Pristiophorus lanceolatus (204247)
Waipipian3.7 - 3.0New Zealand (North Siland) Ikamauius ensifer (202249)
Waipipian3.7 - 3.0New Zealand (Hawera) Pristiophorus lanceolatus, Ikamauius ensifer (28039)
Late/Upper Pliocene3.6 - 2.58New Zealand (South Island) Pristiophorus napierensis (87896)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Chile Pristiophorus sp. (277614 277615)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58USA (California) Pristiophorus sp. (117472)
Piacenzian3.6 - 2.58Italy Pristiophorus sp. (277335 277543)
Gelasian2.58 - 1.8Chile Pristiophorus sp. (277616 277617 277618)
Gelasian - Calabrian2.58 - 0.774Chile Pristiophorus sp. (221049)