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Squalomorphi

Chondrichthyes

Taxonomy
Squalomorphii was named by Compagno (1973). It is extant.

It was reranked as the superorder Squalomorphii by Cappetta (1987), Long (1992), Duffin and Ward (1993), Biddle (1993), Johns (1997), Ginter et al. (2010), Engelbrecht et al. (2017); it was reranked as the superorder Squalomorphi by van der Laan (2019).

It was assigned to Euselachii by Cappetta (1987); to Chondrichthyes by Sepkoski (2002); to Elasmobranchii by van der Laan (2019); and to Neoselachii by Long (1992), Duffin and Ward (1993), Biddle (1993), Johns (1997), Yamagishi (2004), Cahuzac et al. (2007), Ginter et al. (2010), Engelbrecht et al. (2017), Stumpf and Kriwet (2019).

Subtaxa
Echinorhiniformes, Hexanchida, Hexanchiformes, Pristiophoriformes, Protospinaciformes, Squaliformes, Squatiniformes
Sister taxa
Echinorhiniformes, Hexanchiformes, Pristiophoriformes, Protospinaciformes, Squaliformes, Squatiniformes

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1973Squalomorphii Compagno
1987Squalomorphii Cappetta
1992Squalomorphii Long p. 14
1993Squalomorphii Biddle p. 198
1993Squalomorphii Duffin and Ward p. 56
1997Squalomorphii Johns p. 33
2002Squalomorphii Sepkoski
2004Squalomorphii Yamagishi p. 570
2007Squalomorphii Cahuzac et al. p. 12
2010Squalomorphii Ginter et al. p. 105
2017Squalomorphii Engelbrecht et al. p. 843
2019Squalomorphii Stumpf and Kriwet p. 648
2019Squalomorphi van der Laan p. 43

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

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.

Superor. Squalomorphi Compagno 1973
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†Echinorhinus blakei Agassiz 1856
†Echinorhinus lapaoi Antunes and Cappetta 2002
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Invalid names: Echinorhinus maremagnum Bogan 2017 [synonym]
†Echinorhinus spinosus Gmelin 1789
†Echinorhinus vielhus Guinot et al. 2014
Fm. †Orthechinorhinidae Herman and van Waes 2014
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G. †Orthechinorhinus Adnet 2006
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†Orthechinorhinus davidae Welton 2016
Fm. †Pseudoechinorhinidae Herman and van Waes 2014
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G. †Pseudoechinorhinus Pfeil 1983
Or. Hexanchiformes de Buen 1926
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G. Chlamydoselachus Garman 1884
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†Chlamydoselachus balli Cappetta et al. 2019
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Invalid names: Glyphis subulata Gibbes 1847 [synonym]
†Chlamydoselachus kamchaticus Malyshkina and Nazarkin 2024
G. †Dykeius Cappetta et al. 2019
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†Dykeius garethi Cappetta et al. 2019
G. †Rolfodon Cappetta et al. 2019
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†Rolfodon bracheri Pfeil 1983
†Rolfodon goliath Antunes and Cappetta 2002
†Rolfodon keyesi Mannering and Hiller 2008
†Rolfodon landinii Carillo-Briceño et al. 2014
†Rolfodon ludvigseni Cappetta et al. 2019
†Rolfodon tatere Consoli 2008
†Rolfodon thomsoni Richter and Ward 1990
Fm. †Crassonotidae Kriwet and Klug 2012
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G. †Pachyhexanchus Cappetta 1990
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†Pachyhexanchus pockrandti Ward and Thies 1987
G. †Eonotidanus Pfeil 1893
Fm. Heptranchidae Barnard 1925
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G. Heptranchias Rafinesque 1810 [sevengill shark]
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†Heptranchias andersoni Jordan 1907
†Heptranchias cinereus Gmelin 1789
†Heptranchias ezoensis Applegate and Uyeno 1968
†Heptranchias howellii Reed 1946
Heptranchias perlo Bonnaterre 1788
Fm. Hexanchidae Gray 1851 [cow shark]
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G. †Gladioserratus Underwood et al. 2011
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†Gladioserratus aptiensis Pictet 1865
†Gladioserratus dentatus Guinot et al. 2014
†Gladioserratus magnus Underwood et al. 2011
G. Hexanchus Rafinesque 1810 [sixgill shark]
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†Hexanchus agassizi Cappetta 1976
†Hexanchus gigas Sismonda 1857
†Hexanchus gracilis Davis 1887
†Hexanchus microdon Agassiz 1835
G. †Monopterhinus Blainville 1816
G. †Notidanion Jordan 1923
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†Notidanion boreale Jordan and Hanibal 1923
†Notidanion chiconis Jordan 1907
G. †Notidanodon Cappetta 1975
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†Notidanodon brotzeni Siverson 1995
†Notidanodon dentatus Woodward 1886
†Notidanodon lanceolatus Woodward 1886
†Notidanodon pectinatus Agassiz 1843
G. Notidanus Cuvier 1817
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†Notidanus gracilis Davis 1887
†Notidanus jenningsi Chapman and Pritchard 1904
†Notidanus loozi Vincent 1876
†Notidanus marginalis Davis 1888
†Notidanus munsteri Agassiz 1843
†Notidanus recurvus Agassiz 1843
†Notidanus tenuidens Leriche 1938
†Notidanus ultra Ameghino 1901
G. Notorhynchus Ayres 1855 [sevengill shark]
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†Notorhynchus primigenius Agassiz 1835
G. Notorynchus Ayers 1855
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Invalid names: Notidanus plectrodon Cope 1867 [synonym]
†Notorynchus thevenardi Delfortrie 1878
G. †Protoheptranchias Cappetta et al. 2019
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†Protoheptranchias lowei Cappetta et al. 2019
G. †Xampylodon Cappetta et al. 2019
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†Xampylodon dentatus Woodward 1886
†Xampylodon diastemacron dos Santos et al. 2024
Subor. †Hexanchoidei Hay 1902
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Fm. †Crassodontidanidae Kriwet and Klug 2016
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G. †Notidanoides Maisey 1986
Fm. †Komoksodontidae Cappetta et al. 2019
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G. †Komoksodon Cappetta et al. 2019
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†Komoksodon kwutchakuth Cappetta et al. 2019
Fm. †Orthacodidae Glikman 1957
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G. †Archaeogracilidens Villalobos-Segura et al. 2025
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†Archaeogracilidens macer Quenstedt 1851
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Invalid names: Oxyrhina ornati Quenstedt 1851 [synonym], Sphenodus nitidus Wagner 1862 [synonym]
G. †Occitanodus Guinot et al. 2014
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†Occitanodus sudrei Guinot et al. 2014
Invalid names: Orthacodontidae de Beaumont 1960 [objective synonym]
G. †Paranotidanus Ward and Thies 1987
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†Paranotidanus serratus Fraas 1855
G. †Thrinax
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†Thrinax baumgartneri Pfeil 1983
G. †Weltonia
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. Pristiophorus Bleeker 1859
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†Pristiophorus laevis Engelbrecht et al. 2017
†Pristiophorus lineatus Applegate and Uyeno 1968
†Pristiophorus napierensis Chapman 1918
†Pristiophorus pricei Cappetta et al. 2019
Pristiophorus schroederi Springer and Bullis 1960
†Pristiophorus smithi Cappetta et al. 2019
†Pristiophorus striatus Underwood and Schlogl 2013
†Pristiophorus tumidens Woodward 1932
Invalid names: Pristiophorinae Bleeker 1859 [empty]
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Fm. †Protospinacidae Woodward 1919
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G. †Breviacanthus Maisey 1976
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†Breviacanthus brevis Philips 1871
G. †Protospinax Woodward 1919
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†Protospinax annectans Woodward 1919
†Protospinax bilobatus Underwood and Ward 2004
†Protospinax carvalhoi Underwood and Ward 2004
†Protospinax magnus Underwood and Ward 2004
†Protospinax planus Underwood 2002
Or. Squaliformes Goodrich 1909
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Fm. Centrophoridae Bleeker 1859 [gulper shark]
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G. †Centrodeania Feichtinger et al. 2024
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†Centrodeania annae Feichtinger et al. 2024
†Centrodeania perchensis Feichtinger et al. 2025
†Centrodeania rugosa Feichtinger et al. 2024
G. Centrophorus Müller and Henle 1837
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†Centrophorus granulosus Bloch and Schneider 1801
†Centrophorus primaevus Pictet 1850
Centrophorus squamosus Bonnaterre 1788
G. Deania Jordan and Snyder 1902
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†Deania angoumeensis Adnet 2006
G. †Centropterus Costa 1856
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†Centropterus lividus Costa 1856
Fm. Dalatiidae Gray 1851
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G. †Acrosqualiolus Adnet 2006
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†Acrosqualiolus mirus Adnet 2006
G. †Angoumeius Adnet et al. 2006
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†Angoumeius paradoxus Adnet et al. 2006
G. Dalatias Rafinesque 1810
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Dalatias licha Bonnaterre 1788
G. †Eosqualiolus Adnet 2006
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†Eosqualiolus aturensis Adnet 2006
†Eosqualiolus skrovinai Underwood and Schlogl 2013
G. †Hessinodon Cappetta et al. 2019
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†Hessinodon wardi Cappetta et al. 2019
G. Isistius Gill 1864
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†Isistius triangulus Probst 1879
Isistius trituratus Winkler 1874
G. †Oligodalatias Welton 2016
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†Oligodalatias jordani Welton 2016
G. †Squaliodalatias Adnet et al. 2006
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†Squaliodalatias savoiei Cappetta et al. 2019
†Squaliodalatias weltoni Adnet et al. 2006
G. Squaliolus Smith and Radcliffe 1912
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†Squaliolus gasconensis Adnet 2006
Squaliolus laticaudus Smith and Radcliffe 1912
†Squaliolus schaubi Casier 1958
Fm. †Eoscymnidae Herman and van den Eeckhaut 2010
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G. †Eoscymnus Herman and van den Eeckhaut 2010
Fm. Etmopteridae Fowler 1941
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G. Aculeola de Buen 1959
G. †Eoetmopterus Muller and Schollmann 1989
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†Eoetmopterus davidi Feichtinger et al. 2022
†Eoetmopterus supracretaceus Müller and Schöllmann 1989
G. Etmopterus Rafinesque 1810
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†Etmopterus acutidens Casier 1966
†Etmopterus cahuzaci Adnet 2006
Etmopterus spinax Linnaeus 1758
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Invalid names: Etmopterus aculeatus Rafinesque 1810 [synonym]
G. †Incognitorapax Feichtinger et al. 2024
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†Incognitorapax fernsebneri Feichtinger et al. 2024
G. Miroscyllium Shirai and Nakaya 1990
G. †Paraetmopterus Adnet 2006
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†Paraetmopterus horvathi Underwood and Schlogl 2013
†Paraetmopterus nolfi Adnet 2006
G. †Proetmopterus Siverson 1993
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†Proetmopterus lukasi Feichtinger et al. 2022
G. Trigonognathus Mochizuki and Ohe 1990
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Trigonognathus kabeyai Mochizuki and Ohe 1990
†Trigonognathus virginiae Cappetta and Adnet 2001
Invalid names: Aculeolidae Herman and van Waes 2012 [synonym]
G. †Fredipristis Feichtinger et al. 2022
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†Fredipristis eximia Feichtinger et al. 2022
G. †Gibbechinorhinus Cappetta 1990
Fm. †Oxynotidae
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G. †Centrina Cuvier 1817
G. Oxynotus Rafinesque 1810
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G. †Borborodes Gistel 1848
G. †Cirrhigaleus Tanaka 1912
G. †Euprotomicrus Gill 1864
G. †Leius Kner 1865
G. Scymnorhinus Bonaparte 1846
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†Scymnorhinus lichia Cuvier 1817
†Scymnorhinus occidentalis Agassiz 1856
G. †Xenodus Miller 1892
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†Xenodus hertzeri Newberry 1889
Invalid names: Goniodus Newberry 1889 [replaced]
Fm. Somniosidae Jordan 1888 [sleeper shark]
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G. Centroscymnus Barbosa du Bocage and Brito Capello 1864
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†Centroscymnus praecursor Muller and Schollmann 1989
†Centroscymnus schmidi Herman 1982
G. Centroselachus Garman 1913
G. †Cretascymnus Cappetta 1980
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†Cretascymnus beauryi Feichtinger et al. 2022
†Cretascymnus westfalicus Muller and Schollmann 1989
G. †Heteroscymnus Tanaka 1912
G. †Laemargus Müller and Henle 1838
G. †Leiodon Wood 1847
G. †Palaeocentroscymnus Pollerspöck 2018
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†Palaeocentroscymnus bavaricus Feichtinger et al. 2025
G. †Protoxynotus Herman 1975
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†Protoxynotus mayrmelnhofi Feichtinger et al. 2022
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Invalid names: Palaeomicroides ursulae Thies and Müller 1993 [synonym]
Invalid names: Paraphorosoides Kriwet et al. 2006 [synonym]
G. †Rhinoscymnus Gill 1864
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†Rhinoscymnus clarki Cappetta et al. 2019
†Rhinoscymnus viridiadamas Welton and Goedert 2016
G. †Scymnodalatias Garrick 1956
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G. Somniosus Le Sueur 1818 [sleeper shark]
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†Somniosus gonzalezi Welton and Goedert 2016
Fm. Squalidae Bonaparte 1834 [dogfish shark]
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G. †Acanthidium Lowe 1839
G. †Acanthorhinus Blainville 1816
G. †Atractophorus Gilchrist 1922
G. †Centrophoroides Davis 1887
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G. †Centroscyllium Müller and Henle 1838
G. †Centrosqualus Signeux 1950
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†Centrosqualus mustardi Cappetta et al. 2019
G. †Entoxychirus Gill 1862
G. †Lepidorhinus Bonaparte 1845
G. †Machephilus Johnson 1867
G. †Megasqualus Herman 1982
G. †Microetmopterus Siverson 1993
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†Microetmopterus wardi Siverson 1993
G. †Nasisqualus Smith 1912
G. †Paracentroscyllium Alcock 1899
G. †Protocentrophorus Adnet et al. 2008
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†Protocentrophorus balticus Dalinkevičius 1935
†Protocentrophorus steviae Cappetta et al. 2019
G. †Protosqualus Cappetta 1977
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†Protosqualus albertsae Thies 1981
†Protosqualus argentinensis Bogan et al. 2016
†Protosqualus barringtonensis Guinot et al. 2013
†Protosqualus glickmani Averianov 1997
†Protosqualus pachyrhiza Underwood and Mitchell 1999
†Protosqualus sigei Cappetta 1977
G. Scymnodon Bocage and Capello 1864
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Scymnodon obscurus Vaillant 1888
G. †Spinax Agassiz 1837
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†Spinax ellipticus Henry 1876
†Spinax laevis Henry 1876
†Spinax major Agassiz 1837
G. Squalus Linnaeus 1758
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Squalus acanthias Linnaeus 1758 [spiny dogfish]
†Squalus ballingsloevensis Siverson 1993
†Squalus balsvikensis Siverson 1993
†Squalus cinereus Gmelin 1789
†Squalus crenatidens Arambourg 1952
†Squalus gabrielsoni Siverson 1993
†Squalus huntensis Case and Cappetta 1997
†Squalus latidens Davis 1887
†Squalus minor Daimeries 1888
†Squalus nicholsae Cappetta et al. 2019
†Squalus orpiensis Winkler 1874
Squalus perlo Bonnaterre 1788
†Squalus serriculus Jordan and Hanibal 1923
†Squalus stehlini Leriche 1938
†Squalus suckleyi Girard 1854
†Squalus vondermarcki Müller and Schöllmann 1989
†Squalus weltoni Long 1992
†Squalus woodburnei Long 1992
Invalid names: Acanthias Leach 1818 [objective synonym]
G. †Zameus Jordan and Fowler 1903
Invalid names: Dalatiinae Gray 1851 [empty], Spinacidae [synonym], Squalinae Bonaparte 1834 [empty]
G. †Squalogaleus Maisey 1976
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†Squalogaleus woodwardi Maisey 1976
Invalid names: Dalatioidea Carvalho 1996 [invalid subgroup]
Or. Squatiniformes Buen 1926
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Fm. †Pseudorhinidae Klug and Kriwet 2012
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G. †Pseudorhina Jaekel 1898
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†Pseudorhina alifera Münster 1842
†Pseudorhina crocheti Guinot et al. 2014
Fm. Squatinidae Bonaparte 1838 [angel shark]
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G. †Cretasquatina Maisey et al. 2020
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†Cretasquatina americana Maisey et al. 2020
G. †Squalraia De la Pylaie 1835
G. †Squatina Dumeril 1806
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Subg. †Squatina (Cretascyllium) Müller and Diedrich 1991
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+
Invalid names: Cretascyllium expansum Müller and Diedrich 1991 [synonym], Squatina decipiens Dalinkevičius 1935 [synonym]
Subg. Squatina (Squatina) Dumeril 1805
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†Squatina (Squatina) fortemordeo Siversson et al. 2015
†Squatina (Squatina) lundegreni Siversson et al. 2015
†Squatina angeloides Van Beneden 1873
†Squatina baumbergensis von der Marck 1885
†Squatina biforis Le Hon 1871
†Squatina crassa Daimeries 1889
†Squatina crassidens Woodward 1889
Squatina dumeril Lesueur 1818
†Squatina frequens Underwood 2002
†Squatina gippslandicus Chapman and Cudmore 1924
†Squatina lerichei Jordan and Beal 1910
†Squatina muelleri Reuss 1846
†Squatina occidentalis Eastman 1904
†Squatina prima Winkler 1874
†Squatina speciosa von Meyer 1856
†Squatina squatina Linnaeus 1758
Invalid names: Hexanchida [empty]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinesubp
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: nektonicc
Diet: carnivorec
Created: 2004-08-17 13:49:23
Modified: 2009-12-13 03:31:01
Source: c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Wagner 2023, Carroll 1988

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Wordian to the top of the Rancholabrean or 266.90000 to 0.01400 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 264.28 Ma

Collections (704 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Wordian266.9 - 264.28Japan Hexanchidae indet. (133500)
Rhaetian205.7 - 201.4France (Franche-Comté) Spinax ellipticus, Spinax laevis (149396)
Rhaetian205.7 - 201.4France (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) Spinax sp. (90876)
Jurassic - Early/Lower Cretaceous201.4 - 100.5United Kingdom (England) Pseudorhina sp. (241465 241466) Squatina sp. A, Protospinax annectans (241438)
Late/Upper Pliensbachian192.9 - 184.2Sweden (Scania) Hexanchidae indet. (90692)
Margaritatus192.9 - 184.2France Hexanchidae indet. (149432)
Pliensbachian192.9 - 184.2Germany Hexanchus wiedenrothi (137184)
Spinatum192.9 - 184.2France (Ardennes) Hexanchidae indet. (149428)
Spinatum192.9 - 184.2Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) Notidanoides sp. (189042 206457)
Toarcian184.2 - 174.7Germany Protospinax sp. (148936)
Levesquei182.9 - 174.7Luxembourg Protospinax sp. (148935)
Variabilis182.9 - 174.7Luxembourg Protospinax sp. (141383 141384)
Late/Upper Toarcian180.4 - 174.7Germany Protospinax sp. (139230)
Thouarsense180.4 - 174.7Luxembourg Protospinax sp. (141386 141387 141389)
Early/Lower Bajocian170.9 - 168.6France (Grand Est) Protospinax bilobatus, Protospinax magnus (179498)
Laeviuscula170.9 - 168.2France Protospinax carvalhoi (179497)
Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom (England) Protospinax bilobatus, Paranotidanus sp. (91450)
Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom Nemacanthus brevis (131844)
Late/Upper Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom (England) Breviacanthus brevis (91449)
Middle Bathonian - Late/Upper Bathonian168.2 - 165.3Poland Protospinax sp. 1 (141283) Protospinax sp. 2 (141286)