Abdounia
An extinct requiem shark genus known from Paleogene teeth.
Last updated
Ghedoghedo · via Wikipedia: Abdounia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Abdounia is an extinct genus of requiem shark that lived during the Paleogene period. It is mainly known from isolated teeth and is considered one of the earliest requiem shark genera, having attained widespread success across North America, Europe, and Africa.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassChondrichthyes
- SubclassElasmobranchii
- DivisionSelachii
- OrderCarcharhiniformes
- FamilyCarcharhinidae
- Genus†Abdounia
Named by Cappetta, 1980
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Abdounia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Time period
- Paleogene
- Known from
- isolated teeth
- Geographic range
- Morocco, France, Belgium, Russia, United States (North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia)
- Notable locality
- lower Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia (most common fossil shark tooth there)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
It is mainly known from isolated teeth, and is one of the earliest requiem shark genera. The genus attained widespread success in North America, Europe, and Africa. Fossil Abdounia teeth are known from the Paleogene of Morocco, France, Belgium, Russia, and the United States (North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia). In the lower Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia, they are the most common fossil shark tooth.
By the end of the Oligocene Epoch the genus is severely reduced, probably due to competition with other Carcharhiniformes like Carcharhinus. The following are species currently attributed to this genus: Abdounia africana, Abdounia beaugei, Abdounia belselensis, Abdounia biauriculata, Abdounia enniskelleni, Abdounia furimskyi, Abdounia lapierrei, Abdounia lata, Abdounia minutissima, Abdounia recticona, and Abdounia vassilyevae. Note this may be an under-representation of actual diversity, as living relatives have extremely similar teeth across species.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Abdounia?
Abdounia is an extinct genus of requiem shark that flourished during the Paleogene period. It is considered one of the earliest known members of the Carcharhinidae family.
Where can you find Abdounia fossils?
Fossil teeth attributed to Abdounia have been recovered from localities in Morocco, France, Belgium, Russia, and several eastern U.S. states including North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Virginia. The lower Nanjemoy Formation in Virginia stands out as the site where its teeth are most frequently encountered.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Abdounia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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