Megaselachus
{{short description|Extinct shark from the Miocene}}
{{speciesbox
| fossil_range = {{fossil range|Miocene}}
| genus = Megaselachus
| parent_authority = Glyckman, 1964
| species = subauriculatus
| authority = (Agassiz, 1839)
| subdivision_ranks = Other species
| subdivision =
- {{extinct}}"M." crassus? (Costa, 1865 Non Neugeboren, 1850)
- {{extinct}}"M." polygyrus? (Morton, 1835)
}}
Megaselachus is a possibly dubious extinct genus of otodontid shark. In the past, this particular genus has been used to house other otodontids, such as the famous megalodon. It is sometimes considered a subgenus of Otodus, or merged with other related genera such as Carcharocles.{{Cite journal |last=Shimada |first=Kenshu |last2=Chandler |first2=Richard E. |last3=Lam |first3=Otto Lok Tao |last4=Tanaka |first4=Takeshi |last5=Ward |first5=David J. |date=2017-07-04 |title=A new elusive otodontid shark (Lamniformes: Otodontidae) from the lower Miocene, and comments on the taxonomy of otodontid genera, including the ‘megatoothed’ clade |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2016.1236795 |journal=Historical Biology |language=en |volume=29 |issue=5 |pages=704–714 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2016.1236795 |issn=0891-2963|url-access=subscription }} The genus lived during the Miocene. Only a single species can be confidentially placed in the genus, Megaselachus subauriculatus.
Description
Megaselachus teeth are moderately narrow. They also have a heavily serrated crown. The labial side is convex with a prominent triangular neck, while the lingual side is concave.{{Cite journal |last=Laurito |first=Cesar A. |last2=Calvo |first2=Cristian |last3=Valerio |first3=Ana L. |last4=Calvo |first4=Alejandro |last5=Chacón |first5=Rafael |date=2014-06-27 |title=Ictiofauna del Mioceno Inferior de la localidad de Pacuare de Tres Equis, Formación Río Banano, provincia de Cartago, Costa Rica, y descripción de un nuevo género y una nueva especie de Scaridae |url=https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/geologica/article/view/15121 |journal=Revista geológica de América central |language=es |volume=50 |pages=153–192 |doi=10.15517/rgac.v0i50.15121 |issn=2215-261X|doi-access=free }}