| “ | It's a primitive shark. The bizarre Stethacanthus. This must be the most preposterous shark ever. Look at that fin on the back. Scientists call it the "Ironing Board Shark", and you can see why. | „ |
| — Allen Johnson, about Stethacanthus in Age of Fishes | ||
Stethacanthus (name meaning "Chest Spike"), colloquially known as the Ironing-Board Shark, is a genus of holocephalian shark that originated during the Late Devonian era in what is now North America, Europe, and Asia. Measuring three meters long and one of the first evolved sharks, it was unique for its flat dorsal fin which resembled an ironing board.
In the Series 1 episode "Age of Fishes II: Armored Fish" a couple of Stethacanthus were brought to the park from Late Devonian Pennsylvania, 360 million years ago. They reside in the Primeval Aquarium Enclosure.
Facts[]
Era & Discovery[]
Among the very first sharks in history to evolve, Stethacanthus lived in North America, Europe, and Asia during the Late Devonian era and lived through to the Late Carboniferous Era, from 382 to 298 million years ago. Though a dangerous predator in its own right constantly on the hunt for animals such as Hynerpeton and Bothriolepis, Stethacanthus itself was hunted by larger Devonian predators such as Hyneria and Dunkleosteus. It was a minor predator in a world dominated in the seas by the Placoderms.
Physical Attributes[]
Stethacanthus was a small, primitive shark, measuring around 3 meter (9.8 feet) in length and weighing around 200 pounds. It looked similar to some of the shark species that would evolve later, like Hybodus. However, unlike them, the shark's most striking feature was its thick, flat dorsal fin at the tip and was shaped like an ironing board, hence the colloquial name "Ironing-Board Shark". As the fin was only featured in the males, it was probably used for courtship and possibly intimidation.
Near its fluke and near its fins were draping lines of skin which ranged in size. The lines near its fins were long whilst the ones near its fluke were short.
Behavior & Traits[]
Despite being primitive compared to later sharks, Stethacanthus was a tenacious predator. It was a solitary hunter that preyed upon small animals, like the amphibian Hynerpeton and the heavily armoured Bothriolepis. Like modern bull sharks, Sethacanthus was able to survive in both fresh and salt water. It would have been a highly advanced shark at the time, posing a threat to the far more primitive forms still abundant during the Devonian. However, during its time, there were larger and far more dangerous predators and Stethacanthus was often preyed upon itself. However advanced this shark was though, large fish like Hyneria and Dunkleosteus would have regularly attacked and devoured sharks like Stethacanthus.
Journal Entry[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Stethacanthus is the first prehistoric shark brought to the park.