Asteracanthus

Asteracanthus is an extinct genus of hybodontiform, known from the Jurassic-Early Cretaceous of Europe.

Asteracanthus
Temporal range: Bathonian–Valanginian
Complete skeleton and restoration of Asteracanthus ornatissimus from the Solnhofen Limestone
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Order: †Hybodontiformes
Family: †Hybodontidae
Genus: †Asteracanthus
L. Agassiz, 1837

Description

Astercanthus was among the largest known hybodontiformes, reaching a length of 2-3 metres. The dentition of Astercanthus is high crowned and multicusped.[1]

Fossil records
Fossil teeth of Asteracanthus

This genus has been reported from the Middle Triassic to the Cretaceous, though the genus as currently circumscribed dates from the Bathonian-Valanginian, predominantly of Europe[1] Fossils are found in the marine strata of United States, Iran, Switzerland, Madagascar and Europe. A complete skeleton was described in 2021 from the Late Jurassic (Tithonian) aged Solnhofen Limestone.[1] Previously considered synonymous, the genus Strophodus (Middle Triassic-Late Cretaceous) is now considered distinct, with the teeth of Asteracanthus having more in common with Hybodus and Egertonodus.[1]

Life habits

The genus seems to have been adapted for open marine conditions, and likely had an epibenthic habit.[1]

Species

Species within this genus include:[2]

  • Asteracanthus acutus Agassiz 1837
  • Asteracanthus granulosus Egerton 1854
  • Asteracanthus magnus Agassiz 1838
  • Asteracanthus medius Owen 1869
  • Asteracanthus minor Agassiz 1837
  • Asteracanthus ornatissimus Agassiz 1837
  • Asteracanthus papillosus Egerton 1854
  • Asteracanthus semisulcatus Agassiz 1837
  • Asteracanthus siderius Leidy 1870
  • Asteracanthus somaensis Yabe 1902
  • Asteracanthus tenuis Agassiz 1838
  • Asteracanthus udulfensis Leuzinger et al. 2017[3]

References
  1. Stumpf, Sebastian; López‐Romero, Faviel A.; Kindlimann, René; Lacombat, Frederic; Pohl, Burkhard; Kriwet, Jürgen (2021-01-13). Cavin, Lionel (ed.). "A unique hybodontiform skeleton provides novel insights into Mesozoic chondrichthyan life". Papers in Palaeontology: spp2.1350. doi:10.1002/spp2.1350. ISSN 2056-2799.
  2. Paleobiology Database
  3. Léa Leuzinger; Gilles Cuny; Evgeny Popov; Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat (2017). "A new chondrichthyan fauna from the Late Jurassic of the Swiss Jura (Kimmeridgian) dominated by hybodonts, chimaeroids and guitarfishes". Papers in Palaeontology. 3 (4): 471–511. doi:10.1002/spp2.1085.
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