Sclerorhynchus

Sclerorhynchus
Temporal range:
Life restoration of Sclerorhynchus atavus
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Rajiformes
Suborder: Sclerorhynchoidei
Family: Ganopristidae
Genus: Sclerorhynchus
Woodward, 1889
Type species
Sclerorhynchus atavus
Woodward, 1889
Other species
  • Sclerorhynchus leptodon
    (Arambourg, 1935)
  • Sclerorhynchus pettersi
    Case & Cappetta, 1997
  • Sclerorhynchus fanninensis
    Cappetta & Case, 1999
  • Sclerorhynchus priscus
    Cappetta & Case, 1999
  • Sclerorhynchus karakensis
    Mustafa, Case, & Zalmout, 2002
Synonyms
Genus synonymy
  • Ganopristis
    Arambourg, 1935
Species synonymy
  • S. atavus
      • Squatina crassidens
        Woodward, 1889
      • Ganopristis libanica
        Arambourg, 1940
    S. leptodon
      • Ganopristis leptodon
        Arambourg, 1935
      • Sclerorhynchus batavicus
        Albers & Weiler, 1964

Sclerorhynchus (from Greek: σκληρός scleros, 'hard' and Greek: ῥύγχος rhynchos 'snout') is an extinct genus of ganopristid sclerorhynchoid that lived during the Late Cretaceous. The genus Ganopristis is considered a junior synonym of Sclerorhynchus. It was a widespread genus, with fossils found in the Middle East (S. atavus, S. karakensis), North Africa (S. leptodon), Europe (S. leptodon), and North America (S. fanninensis, S. pettersi, S. priscus). While it had a long rostrum with large denticles similar to sawfishes and sawsharks, its closest living relatives are actually skates. Complete specimens of S. atavus show that its fin arrangement was similar to skates, with the pectoral and pelvic fins touching, both dorsal fins located behind the pelvic fins, and a reduced caudal fin.