Palaeos:		Neoselachii
The Vertebrates		Squalea

Neoselachii: Squalea

Chondrichthyes
|
Neoselachii
|--Galeomorphii
|  |--Orectolobiformes
|  `--+--Carcharhiniformes   
|     `--Lamniformes
`--Squalea
   |--Squalomorpha
   `--+--Protospinax 
      `--Hypnosqualea
         |--Rajiformes
         `--Myliobatoidei

Taxa on This Page

1. Protospinax X
2. Squalea
3. Squalomorpha

Descriptions

Squalea:

Range: From the Triassic or Jurassic.

Phylogeny: Neoselachii: Galeomorphii + * : Squalomorpha + (Protospinax + Hypnosqualea).

Characters: $ Ectethmoid process absent; $ loss of suborbital shelf; $ orbitostylic jaw suspension; $ basitrabecular process (?) present; $ precaudal hemal arches complete; $ dorsal fin with basal but no spine.

Links: Changes in Shark Classification; Squalea - families.

References: deCarvalho (1996); Shirai (1996). ATW010126.

Squalomorpha:

Range: From the Triassic or Jurassic.

Phylogeny: Squalea : (Protospinax + Hypnosqualea) + *.

Characters: Scoop-shaped rostrum; spiracle large; fin spines present; no anal fin; benthonic, cold marine.

Links: Courtnay Museum:Animal Classification; Squalomorpha; Miss A Wittrick; CARTILAGINOUS FISHES;  ATW021204.

Protospinax: Woodward 1919.  P. annectans. 

Range: Early Jurassic (Toarcian) to Late Jurassic of Europe. 

Phylogeny: Squalea :: Hypnosqualea + *.

Characters: ~170 cm; teeth with moderate labial visor [K03]; may be hump-like structure is indicated just below the apex on the lingual face [K03]; triangular and elongate and/or massive lingual uvula [K03]; labial face triangular in labial view and more or less flat [K03]; basal edge of the labial face is concave [K03]; cutting edge is continuous and rectilinear without any crenulations or serrations [K03]; lateral cusplets absent [K03]; teeth with central foramen  [K03]; broad pectoral fins; pelvic fins anterior and overlapped by pectorals.

Note: believed to be a squalean and sister to Hypnosqualea (batoids + pristids + squatinoids) 

Links: SharkFriends Paleo-Shark Page; ABSTRACTS - Part 1: Amesbury through Ellis; SansTitre; tiburonesg.html; Hors-série Requins; jurasico.htm (Spanish); The American Elasmobranch Society Hompage; Helicoprion (recreación) Helicoprion (fósil) Echinochimaera ( ....; Articles - Dino Hunter (cites to two newish articles); Neoselachian remains (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from the ... (description of some tooth species). 

References: Kriwet (2003) [K03], Maisey (1993)  ATW040722.