Helodus Temporal range:
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Life reconstruction of Helodus simplex | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Order: | †Helodontiformes |
Family: | †Helodontidae |
Genus: | †Helodus Agassiz, 1838 |
Type species | |
Helodus simplex Agassiz, 1838
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Helodus (from Greek: ἧλος helos, 'stud' and Greek: ὀδούς odoús 'tooth')[1] is an extinct genus of cartilaginous fish from the Upper Devonian through Lower Permian.[2] While the type species, H. simplex is known from an articulated specimen, the rest of the species in this genus are known entirely from isolated teeth.[3] Over twenty species have been attributed to this genus, many of which may be anterior teeth of other cartilaginous fish. This makes Helodus a wastebasket taxon.[4] For this reason, only the type species can be confidently attributed to this genus until articulated remains of other species are found.[3] H. simplex was around 30 centimeters long.[2]