Carcharodon plicatilis

Carcharodon plicatilis (meaning "Bended japped/shapped-tooth" in Ancient Greek), also known 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 and 3.6 millions 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]

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 plicatilis Agassiz, 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 xiphodon Agassiz, 1843 (nomen nudum[citation needed]) Cosmopolitodus cf. plicatilis (Agassiz, 1843) Lamna xiphodon (Agassiz, 1838) Lamna plicatilis Agassiz, 1843 (preocuped)

The body size is estimated in 5.2 and 7.6 meters (17.6 and 25 ft) in length, with a possible average size of 5 meters (16.4 ft) in length. Some similar fossil was also found dated of Early Miocene and Late Pliocene epochs, between 20 and 3 millions 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 length,^[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.