Otodus chubutensis

Otodus chubutensis
Temporal range: Early Miocene-Middle Miocene, Possible Late Oligocene and Early Pliocene records
Partially preserved O. chubutensis broken tooth with a slant height of 129 mm (5.1 in)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Division: Selachii
Order: Lamniformes
Family: †Otodontidae
Genus: †Otodus
Species:
†O. chubutensis
Binomial name
†Otodus chubutensis
Ameghino, 1901
Synonyms
  • Carcharodon mexicanus
  • Carcharocles chubutensis
  • Carcharodon chubutensis
  • Carcharodon productus
  • Megaselachus chubutensis Glikman, 1964
  • Otodus subauriculatus
  • Carcharocles subauriculatus
  • Procarcharodon subauriculatus
  • Carcharodon subauriculatus Agassiz, 1843
  • Carcharodon megalodon chubutensis
  • Carcharodon megalodon indica
  • Procarcharodon chubutensis
  • Otodus turgidus
  • Carcharocles turgidus
  • Carcharodon turgidus Agassiz, 1839

Otodus chubutensis, meaning "ear-shaped tooth of Chubut", from Ancient Greek ὠτ (ōt, meaning "ear") and ὀδούς (odoús, meaning "tooth") – thus, "ear-shaped tooth", is an extinct species of prehistoric megatoothed sharks in the genus Otodus, lived from Early Miocene to Middle Miocene, between 23 and 11.6 milion years ago. Some fossils dated of Late Oligocene were found, and possibly belong to this species, but are in debate. The largest individuals were about 13.5 metres (44 ft) long. This shark is considered a close relative of the famous prehistoric megatoothed shark O. megalodon. Teeth believed to belong to this shark have been found in the Pisco Formation and other Early Pliocene deposits, but it is difficult to determine the exact species. However, as is the case with O. megalodon, the classification of this species is disputed.

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