Sclerorhynchus

Sclerorhynchus (from Greek: σκληρός scleros, 'hard' and Greek: ῥύγχος rhynchos 'snout') is an extinct genus of ganopristid sclerorhynchoid that lived during the Late Cretaceous. The genus Ganopristis is considered a junior synonym of Sclerorhynchus.[8][9] It was a widespread genus, with fossils found in the Middle East (S. atavus, S. karakensis), North Africa (S. leptodon), Europe (S. leptodon), and North America (S. fanninensis, S. pettersi, S. priscus). While it had a long rostrum with large denticles similar to sawfishes and sawsharks, its closest living relatives are actually skates.[10] Complete specimens of S. atavus show that its fin arrangement was similar to skates, with the pectoral and pelvic fins touching, both dorsal fins located behind the pelvic fins, and a reduced caudal fin.[11]

Sclerorhynchus Temporal range:
Life restoration of Sclerorhynchus atavus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Superorder:	Batoidea
Order:	Rajiformes
Family:	†Ganopristidae
Genus:	†Sclerorhynchus Woodward, 1889[1]
Type species
†Sclerorhynchus atavus Woodward, 1889
Other species
†Sclerorhynchus leptodon (Arambourg, 1935)[2] †Sclerorhynchus pettersi Case & Cappetta, 1997[3] †Sclerorhynchus fanninensis Cappetta & Case, 1999[4] †Sclerorhynchus priscus Cappetta & Case, 1999 †Sclerorhynchus karakensis Mustafa, Case, & Zalmout, 2002[5]
Synonyms
Genus synonymy Ganopristis Arambourg, 1935 Species synonymy S. atavus Squatina crassidens Woodward, 1889 Ganopristis libanica Arambourg, 1940[6] S. leptodon Ganopristis leptodon Arambourg, 1935 Sclerorhynchus batavicus Albers & Weiler, 1964[7]