Helicoprionidae Explained

Helicoprionidae (sometimes referred to as Agassizodontidae)[1] is an extinct family of holocephalans within the order Eugeneodontida. Members of the Helicoprionidae possessed a "whorl" of tooth crowns connected by a single root along the midline of the lower jaw.[2] While historically considered elasmobranchs related sharks and rays, the closest living relatives of the Helicoprionidae and all other eugeneodonts are now thought to be the ratfishes.[3] The anatomy of the tooth-whorls vary between taxa, with some possessing highly specialized, coiling spirals (such as those of the namesake genus Helicoprion), while others such as Sarcoprion and Parahelicoprion possessed shorter whorls.

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Notes and References

  1. Book: Zangerl, Rainer . Chondrichthyes 1: Paleozoic Elasmobranchii (Handbook of Paleoichthyology) . Friedrich Pfiell . 1981 . 978-3899370454 . 74–94.
  2. Cicimurri, D. J. . Fahrenbach, M. D. . 2002. Chondrichthyes from the upper part of the Minnelusa Formation (Middle Pennsylvanian: Desmoinesian), Meade County, South Dakota. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science . 81. 81–92.
  3. Book: Nelson, Joseph S. . Fishes of the world . Grande . Terry . Wilson . Mark V. H. . Wilson . Mark V. . 2016 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-1-118-34233-6 . 5th . Hoboken, New Jersey . 48-50.