Kourisodon: Research Database
Mesozoic · Fossil Record
Research Note: Kourisodon was a significant fossil species providing important data on vertebrate evolution during the Mesozoic era.
| Research Finding | Status | Grade | Year | Method | Citation | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuny & Martin 2011: Kourisodon and Cretaceous shark diversity Cretaceous Research | Confirmed | A | 2011 | Fossil | Cuny & Martin, Cretaceous Research | Diversity |
Cappetta & Buffetaut 1990: New data on Kourisodon and Cretaceous sharks Neues Jahrbuch | Confirmed | B | 1990 | Fossil | Cappetta & Buffetaut, Neues Jahrbuch | Taxonomy |
What We Still Do Not Know About Kourisodon
- Complete skeletal morphology.
- Phylogenetic relationships.
- Ecological role.
In Depth
Kourisodon was first described from fossil remains discovered in British Columbia, though since this time more partial remains from Japan have been attributed to the genus. Not only does this significantly expand upon the known geographical range of Kourisodon, but it indicates that Kourisodon existed from the Santonian of the Canadian deposits, all the way to the Campanian and Maastrichtian of the Japanese deposits.
Kourisodon is noted as being similar to the genus Clidastes, and like this mosasaur, Kourisodon was likely a fast and agile swimmer that enabled it to chase down fast moving prey such as fish.
Further Reading
- [Crocodilian-like teeth (? Mosasauridae) from the Izumi Group (Upper Cretaceous, Maastrichtian) of Sobura, Kaizuka-city, Osaka Prefecture, southwest Japan]. Chigakukenkyu 47(2):91-95. - M. Tanimoto, M. Tani & M. Minamino - 1998. - Marine reptiles from the Nanaimo Group (Upper Cretaceous) of Vancouver Island. - Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 39(11):1591-1603. - E. L. Nicholls & D. Meckert - 2002. - Mosasaur remains from the Upper Cretaceous Izumi Group of southwest Japan. - Netherlands Journal of Geosciences - Geologie en Mijnbouw 84(3):373-378. - M. Tanimoto - 2005.
