Delphyodontos

Delphyodontos
Temporal range: Bashkirian
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subclass:
Holocephali
Genus:
†Delphyodontos
Species:
†D. dacriformes
Binomial name
Delphyodontos dacriformes
(Lund, 1980)

Delphyodontos dacriformes is a prehistoric holocephalan fish from the middle Carboniferous-aged Bear Gulch Limestone Lagerstätte, during the Bashkirian Stage in Montana.[1] The adult form is unknown, as the only fossil specimens are of aborted fetuses or recently born young.[2] Sharp teeth and fecal matter in the fossils suggests that Delphyodontos practiced intrauterine cannibalism,[2] like some modern sharks, such as sand tiger sharks.

  1. ^ "Bear Gulch - Delphyodontos dacriformes". Fossil Fishes of Bear Gulch. Archived from the original on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  2. ^ a b Lund, R. 1980. Viviparity and intrauterine feeding in a new holocephalan fish from the Lower Carboniferous of Montana. Science, 209: 697‑699.