Dracopristis

Dray-ko-priss-tiss.
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Cassidy Wood

Paleoentomologist

Cassidy Wood uncovers the tiny yet significant world of prehistoric insects. Her research on amber-preserved specimens has revealed intricate details about ancient ecosystems.

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Name

Dracopristis ‭(‬Dragon shark‭)‬.

Phonetic

Dray-ko-priss-tiss.

Named By

J-.‭ ‬P.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Hodnett,‭ ‬E.‭ ‬D.‭ ‬Grogan,‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Lund,‭ ‬S.G.‭ ‬Lucas,‭ ‬T.‭ ‬Suazo,‭ ‬D.‭ ‬K.‭ ‬Elliott‭ & ‬J.‭ ‬Pruitt‭ ‬-‭ ‬2021.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Chondrichthyes,‭ ‬Ctenacanthiformes.

Diet

Piscivore/Carnivore.

Species

D.‭ ‬hoffmanorum‭

Size

Holotype individual roughly about‭ ‬2‭ ‬meters long.

Known locations

USA,‭ ‬New Mexico‭ ‬-‭ ‬Atrasado Formation‭ [‬Tinajas Member‭]‬.

Time Period

Pennsylvanian of the Carboniferous.

Fossil representation

Almost complete articulated skeleton of a female.

In Depth

       Dracopristis is a genus of ctenacanthiforme fish that lived in North America during the Carboniferous period.‭ ‬The‭ ‬ctenacanthiforme fish are generally considered to be like sharks but are also separate from‭ ‘‬true sharks‭’ ‬the kind that we can see swimming around today.‭ ‬Dracopristis like other ctenacanthiforme fish had two large spines rising from its back and supporting two dorsal fins.‭ ‬These spines may have been for defence from other predators.

       Also like other ctenacanthiforme fish,‭ ‬Dracopristis had a large mouth but one not as movable as a modern shark.‭ ‬The teeth of Dracopristis where multicusped so that a hunting Dracopristis could seize and hold on to prey animals more easily.Further reading

-‭ ‬Ctenacanthiform sharks from the late Pennsylvanian‭ (‬Missourian‭) ‬Tinajas Member of the Atrasado Formation,‭ ‬Central New Mexico.‭ ‬-‭ ‬New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin.‭ ‬84:‭ ‬391‭–‬424.‭ ‬-‭ ‬J-.‭ ‬P.‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Hodnett,‭ ‬E.‭ ‬D.‭ ‬Grogan,‭ ‬R.‭ ‬Lund,‭ ‬S.G.‭ ‬Lucas,‭ ‬T.‭ ‬Suazo,‭ ‬D.‭ ‬K.‭ ‬Elliott‭ & ‬J.‭ ‬Pruitt‭ ‬-‭ ‬2021.

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