Carcharodon plicatilis

Carcharodon plicatilis Temporal range: Late Miocene-Early Pliocene, 7.1–3.6  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Possible Early Miocene-Late Pliocene records[ citation needed ]
Jaws reconstruction of C. plicatilis.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Division:	Selachii
Order:	Lamniformes
Family:	Lamnidae
Genus:	Carcharodon
Species:	†C. plicatilis
Binomial name
†Carcharodon plicatilis (Agassiz, 1843)
Synonyms
Isurus plicatilisAgassiz, 1843 (preocuped) Cosmopolitodus xiphodon? (Glickman, 1964) Isurus xiphodon(Agassiz, 1838) Cosmopolitodus plicatilis? Glickman, 1964 ( nomen conservadum ) Oxyrhina xiphodon(Agassiz, 1838) Cosmopolitodus cf. hastalis(Glickman, 1964)[ citation needed ] Carcharodon xiphodonAgassiz, 1843 ( nomen nudum [ citation needed ]) Cosmopolitodus cf. plicatilis(Agassiz, 1843) Lamna xiphodon(Agassiz, 1838) Lamna plicatilisAgassiz, 1843 (preocuped)

Carcharodon plicatilis (meaning "Bended japped/shapped-tooth" in Ancient Greek), also know as Giant white shark, or Broad-toothed mako, is an extinct species of giant lamnid shark that lived in Late Miocene and Early Pliocene epochs, probably something between 7.1 to 3.6 milions years ago. ^[1] He is also considered one of, if not, the largest species of shark of Lamnidae family, and is considered a related species to modern Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), and possible your direct ancestor, or a transicional species between C. hubbelli and C. hastalis. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

The body size is estimated in 5.2 and 7.6 meters (17.6 and 25 ft) in lenght, with a possible average size of 5 meters (16.4 ft) in lenght. Some similar fossil was also found dated of Early Miocene and Late Pliocene epochs, between 20 and 3 milions years ago in North America, Peru and Europe.^{[ citation needed ]} The validity of this species are in dispute, is often considered junior synonym of C. hastalis , but some studies suggest C. plicatilis as a valid species and very related too. The C. plicatilis is also know as Isurus xiphodon, depending on the classification.

Taxonomy

History

The classification of C. plicatilis are in debate. He was originally named from Louis Agassiz as species of Oxyrhina genus, as "Oxyrhina xiphodon" or "Oxyrhina plicatilis". In 1964, the Paleontologist Glickman reclassified this species in a separate genus, the Cosmopolitodus . He named the type species C. hastalis, and other three species, C. plicatilis, C. xiphodon, and C. trigonodon . But, in 2017 the names C. plicatilis and C. xiphodon were recombined by Alberto Collareta as junior synonym of Carcharodon plicatilis. ^[5] The name C. trigonodon is considered a junior synonym of C. hastalis, in part. ^[6]

Today, the C. plicatilis is placed in Carcharodon genus, and a possible variation of C. hastalis or a nomen dubium . ^{[7] [8] [9]} But some studies of 2021 and 2023 challenged this view, suggesting that C. plicatilis is a valid species, closely related to C. hastalis, C. hubbelli , and the modern Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). ^{[10] [11]}

Lamnidae	Isurus desori Isurus oxyrinchus Carcharodon hastalis "Isurus" planus Carcharodon plicatilis Carcharodon hubbelli Carcharodon carcharias

Many paleontologists agreed with this view, but a good number raised concerns about this view, suggesting that the differences highlighted may be just a dimorphism or sexual variation within the same species. ^[12]

Description

Size

The C. plicatilis is a large species of White shark, it is estimated in 5.2 and 7.6 meters (17.6 and 25 ft) in lenght, ^[13] the average size is estimates in same of Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias).^{[ citation needed ]}

Teeth

The teeth of C. plicatilis is very robust than C. hastalis, and the shape of the teeth varies greatly from individual to individual. Its teeth are quite similar to those of C. hastalis, which is why it is suspected that it is not a distinct species, but rather a synonym or individual variation.

Distribuition

Fossil's of C. plicatilis have been found in deposits dated of Miocene and Pliocene of North America, Europe, Australia, possible Asia, Pacific Ocean, Portugal and South America. Fossil of C. plicatilis is very rare and that is why it is so difficult to distinguish it from other species, as well as to synonymize it, especially with C. hastalis.

References

1. Perea, Daniel; Corona, Andrea; Ubilla, Martín; Manzuetti, Aldo; Badín, Ana Clara; Montenegro, Felipe; Toriño, Pablo; Rinderknecht, Andrés (2023-10-01). "The Camacho Formation of Uruguay (Late Miocene): New vertebrate findings, biostratigraphic update, associated environments, and chronostratigraphic remarks" . Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 130 104585. Bibcode:2023JSAES.13004585P. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2023.104585. ISSN   0895-9811.
2. Agassiz, L. (1843) Recherches sur les poissons fossiles, 15th and 16th livraisons (March 1843). Jent and Gassmann, Soleure (text) and H. Nicolet, Neuchâtel (planches). – vol. 3: [i]-[iv], 157-390, 382*-382**, 1–32, [33]-[34], pl. 1, 18, 22, 22a, 22b, 26a, 38, 40b, 40c, 40d, 45, 47
3. "iDigBio Specimen Record | Carcharodon plicatilis". iDigBio Specimen Portal. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
4. "A Morphometric Approach for Addressing Tooth-Based Species Delimitation in Fossil Mako Sharks, Isurus (Elasmobranchii: Lamniformes". We suggest that an available and valid name for this species is Isurus plicatilis Agassiz, 1843 (Cione, 1988). ... Oldest record of the Great White ...)
5. Collareta, Alberto; Landini, Walter; Chacaltana, César; Valdivia, Waldir; et al. "A well preserved skeleton of the fossil shark Cosmopolitodus hastalis from the late Miocene of Peru, featuring fish remains as fossilized stomach contents". Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
6. Joleaud, Léonce (1907). "Géologie et paléontologie de la Plaine du Comtat et de ses abords" (in French). Avignon: François Segon. Retrieved 5 October 2025– via Gallica.
7. Kowinsky, Jayson. "Prehistoric White Sharks: Learn about extinct White sharks and their Evolution". FossilGuy.com. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
8. "Carcharodon plicatilis (Agassiz, 1843)". Shark-References. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
9. "iDigBio Specimen Record | Carcharodon plicatilis". iDigBio Specimen Portal. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
10. Alberto Collera; Marco Merella; Simone Casati; Giovanni Colleti; Andrea Di Cencio (2023). "Another thermophilic "Miocene survivor" from the Italian Pliocene: A geologically young occurrence of the pelagic eagle ray Aetobatus in the Euro-Mediterranean region". Carnets de Géologie.
11. Malyshkina, T.P.; Nazarkin, M.V.; Solovyow, A.V. (2023). "An Oldest Record of the Shark Cosmopolitodus planus (Lamnidae) from the Lower Miocene of the Sakhalin, Russia". Journal of Ichthyology.
12. Yun, Chan-gyu (2020). "New example of Cosmopolitodus hastalis (Lamniformes, Lamnidae) from the Miocene of South Korea". Zoodiversity.
13. "The Neogene Sharks, Rays, and Bony Fishes from Lee Creek Mine, Aurora, North Carolina". Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. Paleontology of the Lee Creek Mine.

External links

• Cosmopolitodus plicatilis (Agassiz, 1843) in Paleobiology Database (2024). The Paleobiology Database. Checklist dataset The Paleobiology Database accessed via GBIF.org on 2025-07-07.