The megamouth shark is a species of deepwater shark. Rarely seen by humans, it measures around 5.2 m (17 ft) long and is the smallest of the three extant filter-feeding sharks alongside the relatively larger whale shark and basking shark. According to Sharkman's World Organization a total of 286 specimens have been observed or caught since its discovery in 1976. Like the other two planktivorous sharks, it swims with its mouth wide open, filtering water for plankton and jellyfish. It is recognizable from its large head with rubbery lips. The megamouth is so unlike any other type of shark that it is usually considered to be the sole extant species in the family Megachasmidae, though some scientists have suggested it may belong in the family Cetorhinidae.
The Lamniformes are an order of sharks commonly known as mackerel sharks. It includes some of the most familiar species of sharks, such as the great white as well as less familiar ones, such as the goblin shark and megamouth shark.
The basking shark is the second-largest living shark and fish, after the whale shark. It is one of three plankton-eating shark species, along with the whale shark and megamouth shark. Typically, basking sharks reach 7.9 m (26 ft) in length. It is usually greyish-brown, with mottled skin, with the inside of the mouth being white in colour. The caudal fin has a strong lateral keel and a crescent shape. Other common names include bone shark, elephant shark, sailfish, and sunfish. In Orkney, it is called hoe-mother, meaning "the mother of the piked dogfish".
Cetorhinidae is a family of filter feeding mackerel sharks, whose members are commonly known as basking sharks. It includes the extant basking shark, Cetorhinus, as well as two extinct genera, Caucasochasma and Keasius.
Megachasma is a genus of mackerel sharks. It is usually considered to be the sole genus in the distinct family Megachasmidae, though suggestion has been made that it may belong in the family Cetorhinidae, of which the basking shark is currently the sole extant member. Megachasma is known from a single living species, Megachasma pelagios.
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- and ὀδούς – thus, "ear-shaped tooth".
Ptychodus is a genus of extinct large durophagous (shell-crushing) lamniform sharks from the Cretaceous period, spanning from the Albian to the Campanian. Fossils of Ptychodus teeth are found in many Late Cretaceous marine sediments worldwide.
Otodontidae is an extinct family of sharks belonging to the order Lamniformes. Its members have been described as megatoothed sharks. They lived from the Early Cretaceous to the Pliocene, and included genera such as Otodus, including the giant megalodon. Recent studies of the newly described genus Megalolamna indicate that the members of the genus Carcharocles should be reclassified as members of the genus Otodus. The genus Cretalamna which lived from the mid-Cretaceous-Paleogene is believed to be directly ancestral to Otodus, and thus to megalodon.
Nanocetorhinus is an extinct genus of sharks in the subclass Neoselachii from the Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene. The type species N. tuberculatus lived across the Northern Hemisphere during the Early to Middle Miocene, and the second species N. zeitlingeri lived in Austria during the Late Oligocene.
Galeomorphii is a superorder of sharks. They are sometimes called galea or galean sharks. There are about 300 living species in 23 families. Galean sharks are divided into four orders: the Heterodontiformes, Orectolobiformes, Lamniformes, and Carcharhiniformes. The extinct, enigmatic Synechodontiformes are presently placed by some authors in the galeomorphs, but their taxonomic position still remains uncertain.
The Astoria Formation is a geologic formation in Washington state & Oregon. It preserves fossils dating back to the early to middle Miocene.
The Keasey Formation is a geologic formation in northwestern Oregon. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period.
This list of fossil fishes described in 2015 is a list of new taxa of jawless vertebrates, placoderms, acanthodians, fossil cartilaginous fishes, bony fishes and other fishes of every kind that have been described during the year 2015, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleontology of fishes that occurred in the year 2015. The list only includes taxa at the level of genus or species.
Pseudocorax is an extinct genus of mackerel sharks that lived during the Late Cretaceous. It contains six valid species that have been found in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and North America. It was formerly assigned to the family Anacoracidae, but is now placed in its own family Pseudocoracidae along with Galeocorax. The former species "P." australis and "P." primulus have been reidentified as species of Echinorhinus and Squalicorax, respectively.
Megalolamna is an extinct genus of large mackerel shark that lived approximately 23.5 to 15 million years ago (Mya), from the Late Oligocene to the Middle Miocene epochs. Fossils belonging to this genus are known from the Americas, Europe and Japan, and have been documented in scientific literature since the late 19th century. It was in 2016 that the fossils were described as belonging to the same distinct taxon called M. paradoxodon. However, a 2024 study reveals that the taxon was already described indirectly in 1879 under the name Otodus serotinus, the only known species of this genus then being renamed as M. serotinus. It is a member of the Otodontidae, a family of large-toothed sharks known to include the contemporary megalodon.
Paraisurus is an extinct genus of mackerel sharks that lived during the Cretaceous. It contains four valid species, which have been found in Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia. A fifth species, P. amudarjensis, is now considered a synonym of P. compressus. While this genus is mostly known from isolated teeth, an associated dentition of P. compressus was found in the Weno Formation of Texas. It went extinct around the Albian-Cenomanian boundary, as a supposed Coniacian occurrence of "P. sp." is likely a misidentified pseudoscapanorhynchid.
Carcharoides is an extinct genus of mackerel shark which lived during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs. It is a widespread genus, known from specimens in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. It is most common in the European portion of its range, being comparatively uncommon in other places. It is only known from isolated teeth, which are relatively delicate.
Pseudoscapanorhynchidae is a family of extinct mackerel sharks that lived during the Cretaceous and potentially the Paleogene. It currently includes Cretodus, Eoptolamna, Leptostyrax, Protolamna, Pseudoscapanorhynchus, and possibly Lilamna.
Caucasochasma is an extinct genus of basking sharks that lived during the Oligocene. It contains one species, C. zherikhini. It is known from a mostly-complete skeleton from the Pshekha Formation of Russia. It has a body plan more similar to sand sharks than to extant basking sharks, which indicates that it was a benthic filter feeder.
Cetorhinus huddlestoni is extinct species of basking shark that lived in the Middle miocene period. Its fossils consist of juvenile specimens, represented by fragmented and complete teeth. They are believed to be the same size as the current basking shark. It was discovered in the Shark tooth Formation by Welton in 2013.
