Otodus Temporal range: Paleocene–Early Pliocene,
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Reconstructed jaws of a Paleogene Otodus (O. obliquus) | |
Reconstructed jaws of a Neogene Otodus (O. megalodon) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
Order: | Lamniformes |
Family: | †Otodontidae |
Genus: | †Otodus Agassiz, 1843 |
Type species | |
†Otodus obliquus Agassiz, 1838
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Species[1][2] | |
Species pending reassessment
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Synonyms[3] | |
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Otodus is an extinct, cosmopolitan genus of mackerel shark which lived from the Paleocene to the Pliocene epoch. The name Otodus comes from Ancient Greek ὠτ- (ōt-, meaning "ear") and ὀδούς (odoús, meaning "tooth") – thus, "ear-shaped tooth".