Helicoprionidae

Helicoprionidae
Helicoprion
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Holocephali
Order: Eugeneodontida
Clade: Edestoidea
Family: Helicoprionidae
Karpinsky, 1911
Type genus
Helicoprion
Karpinsky, 1899
Type species
Helicoprion bessonowi
Karpinsky, 1899
Genera
Synonyms
  • Agassizodontidae Zangerl, 1981

Helicoprionidae (sometimes referred to as Agassizodontidae) is an extinct family of holocephalans within the order Eugeneodontida. Members of the Helicoprionidae possessed a "whorl" of tooth crowns connected by a single root along the midline of the lower jaw. While historically considered elasmobranchs related sharks and rays, the closest living relatives of the Helicoprionidae and all other eugeneodonts are now thought to be the ratfishes. The anatomy of the tooth-whorls vary between taxa, with some possessing highly specialized, coiling spirals (such as those of the namesake genus Helicoprion), while others such as Sarcoprion and Parahelicoprion possessed shorter whorls.