Saivodus

Saivodus is an extinct genus of ctenacanthiform fish that existed during the Carboniferous and Permian periods.^[1] Fossils have been found in Ireland, Scotland, England, Belgium, Morocco, and the United States.^[2]

Saivodus Temporal range: Mississippian–Guadalupian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Preserved cranial material of S. striatus found at Mammoth Cave
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Order:	†Ctenacanthiformes
Genus:	†Saivodus Duffin & Ginter, 2006
Species:	†S. striatus
Binomial name
†Saivodus striatus Agassiz, 1843
Synonyms
†Cladodus striatus

Taxonomy

Saivodus was erected in 2006. The single species belonging to this genus was formerly included in the unrelated genus Cladodus.^[1]

Description

Saivodus is the largest known member of its group measuring 4–5 metres (13–16 ft) or more in total body length, possibly even up to 6–7 metres (20–23 ft), based on individual teeth about 3 centimetres (1.2 in) or more in length.^[3][4] The shape of the teeth suggest it targeted soft-bodied prey.^[5]

Preserved jaw cartilage found in Mammoth Cave being scanned via photogrammetry