Saivodus Temporal range: Mississippian to Upper Leonardian
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Order: | †Ctenacanthiformes |
Genus: | †Saivodus Duffin & Ginter, 2006 |
Species: | †S. striatus
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Binomial name | |
†Saivodus striatus Agassiz, 1843
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Synonyms | |
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Saivodus is an extinct genus of ctenacanthiform fish that existed in early Mississippian of the Carboniferous period.[1] Fossils have been found in Ireland, Scotland, England, Belgium, Morocco, and the United States. Teeth assigned to that genus are also known from the Permian (Leonardian) Kaibab Formation.[2]
Saivodus was erected in 2006. The single species belonging to this genus was formerly included in the unrelated genus Cladodus.[1]
Saivodus is the largest known member of its group measuring 4–5 metres (13–16 ft) or more in total body length, possibly even up to 6–7 metres (20–23 ft), based on individual teeth about 3 centimetres (1.2 in) or more in length.[3][4] The shape of the teeth suggest it targeted soft-bodied prey.[5]