Hybodus

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iHybodus Fossil range: Late Permian to Early Cretaceous
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Chondrichthyes Subclass: Elasmobranchii Superfamily: Hybodontoidea Family: Hybodontidae Genus: Hybodus Agassiz, 1837
Species
See text for species.

Hybodus
Type	shark
Length	6 ft 6 in (2 m)
Age	250-130 million years ago
Diet	carnivore
Environment	ocean
Distribution	worldwide

Hybodus is an extinct genus of once-common, widespread and long lived sharks, first appearing towards the end of the Permian period, and disappearing at the beginning of the Cretaceous.

Hybodus species grew to about 2 m in length, and are believed to have been opportunist predators. They had several distinct features that made them stand apart from other primitive sharks: they had two different types of teeth (both sharp and flat), suggesting a wide diet (sharp for catching slippery prey, flat for crushing shelled creatures) , a bony blade on their dorsal fin for apparent protection, and the development of "claspers". These specialized, penis-like organs aid males in reproduction by directly inserting sperm into the female. This last development has been passed on to modern sharks.

[edit] Species

• Hybodus houtienensis
•  ?Hybodus butleri
•  ?Hybodus obtusus
•  ?Hybodus parvidens
•  ?Hybodus rajkovichi
•  ?Hybodus montanendis

[edit] In popular culture

Hybodus was featured in the third episode of the popular 1999 documentary series Walking With Dinosaurs, being attracted to the blood of an Ophthalmosaurus in labor. It was unidentified in this episode. Hybodus made its return in the 2003 spin-off Sea Monsters, briefly shown feeding on a giant struggling Leedsichthys with "Metriorhynchus"