Acrodus Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Partial articulated dentition | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Order: | †Hybodontiformes |
Family: | †Acrodontidae |
Genus: | †Acrodus Agassiz in Alberti, 1834[1] |
Acrodus (from Greek: άκρος ákros, 'high' and Greek: ὀδούς odoús 'tooth')[2] is an extinct genus of hybodont spanning from the Early Triassic[3] to the Late Jurassic.[4] (The Early Cretaceous species "Acrodus" nitidus affinity to the genus is questionable.[5]) It was durophagous, with blunt, broad teeth designed for crushing and grinding.[6] Some Middle Triassic species have been suggested to have grown to lengths of 1.8–2.5 metres (5.9–8.2 ft).[7] Species are known from both marine and freshwater environments, with all Middle and Late Jurassic species only known from freshwater.[4]