Species
Edestus giganteus
Edestus giganteusAlso known as Scissor-toothed Shark
Edestus giganteus dominated Carboniferous seas as an apex marine predator with one of the most bizarre dental arrangements in the fossil record. Rather than shedding worn teeth, it retained them in singular, curved midline blades projecting like serrated shears from both jaws. Biomechanical modeling suggests it hunted by thrashing its jaws vertically to slice through soft-bodied prey such as ammonoids and ancient fish.
PrehistoricCarnivoreApex Predator
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyOrthoconic cephalopods, Palaeonisciform fish, Small chondrichthyans
ThreatsMarine ecosystem turnover and climatic fluctuations during the Late Carboniferous
HabitatsWarm, shallow epicontinental seas and coastal marine waters
Life spanEstimated 20–30 years
Classification
- FamilyEdestidae
- SpeciesEdestus giganteus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known only from fossil records.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Viewing: Examine tooth whorls displayed in major natural history museums.
- Rock Formations: Watch for isolated tooth crowns when visiting Pennsylvanian-age black shales.
Distant Kin (c) Brian Gratwicke, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Gyik Toma (Tommy the paleobear) from Romania / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Order Relative James St. John / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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