Cladoselache
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Cladoselache is one of the best-known early sharks. This streamlined animal would have been a common sight in the oceans of late Devonian North America. It has a short, rounded head and five to seven gill slits. Its teeth are smooth and multicusped, good for grasping. Gut contents reveal Cladoselache ate ray-finned fish, conodonts, crustaceans, and even other sharks. Well-preserved specimens have revealed interesting details about its soft tissue. Its dorsal fins have a small spine in front of them, and its caudal fin is crescent-shaped. Unusually for a shark, much of its body is smooth and it seems to have lacked claspers. Cladoselache can be found in the Devonian section of the Aquarium. |
Scientific name Location Time Length Diet |