Isurus desori or "Desori shark", or "Desori mako shark" is an extinct species of Mako shark, that lived in the Oligocene and Middle Miocene, between 34 and 11 million years ago. It measured 4.2 m (14 ft) long.

Diet

The Isurus desori hunted squids, fish and marine mammals. The fossil of I. desori was discovered in the Chesapeake Bay region.[2]

Taxonomy

The I. desori belongs to the family Lamnidae. It is classified in the genus Isurus, and it is believed that it was the ancestor of the present-day mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus). It is believed to be related to C. hastalis, and C. xiphodon, as well as the Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus).[3]

Scientists believe that I. desori belongs to the subfamily Isuridae, where it evolved into the only two contemporary species, I. paucus and I. oxyrinchus, the only surviving species of the genus Isurus. It was once believed that I. desori belonged to the genus Oxyrhina, which is now considered a likely invalid or doubtful genus.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ Isurus desori (Agassiz, 1843) † . Retrieved through: Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera.
  2. ^ "Fossil Mako (Desori) Teeth". JTS Sharks Teeth.
  3. ^ Agassiz, Louis, Mako Shark Teeth, 1843

Further reading

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