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441 / Paleozoic
Stethacanthus
Stethacanthus altonensis
Males carried a denticle-covered anvil-shaped structure on the back.
- Time range
- About 330 million years ago
- Final stage
- Middle Carboniferous
- Geographic range
- Warm shallow sea · North America
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Stethacanthus?
Stethacanthus (Stethacanthus altonensis) was an extinct organism known from About 330 million years ago, with a range in Warm shallow sea · North America.
Life and ecology
This small shark relative hunted fish and invertebrates; the dorsal structure may have signalled during courtship.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Stethacanthus disappear?
Carboniferous chondrichthyan turnover ended the species.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Stethacanthus?
Complete skeletons preserve the dorsal brush, though its display remains debated.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS