Youngest jalodontid shark from the Triassic of Europe and a revision of the Jalodontidae

Abstract

Phoebodont-like teeth originally described as Phoebodus brodiei and Phoebodus keuperinus from the Upper Triassic of England and Germany, respectively, are attributed to a new genus Keuperodus of the family Jalodontidae. The characteristic features of all jalodontid genera are re-examined leading to the conclusion that this group formed a separate, distinct chondrichthyan evolutionary line for which a new order, the Jalodontiformes is established. The jalodontid dentition evolved from a homodont-like type to one which was markedly heterodont.