Echinorhinus
Echinorhinus is the only extant genus in the family Echinorhinidae, either a family within the large order Squaliformes or their own monotypic order Echinorhiniformes. The two extant species possess enlarged denticles forming prominent spines or thorns on their skin.
Taxonomy
Echinorhinidae are traditionally classified in the order Squaliformes, together with dogfish, kitefin and gulper sharks. However, a phylogenetic analysis based on gene capture data and mitochondrial data suggests that they are not squaliform sharks, but may be more likely to be appropriately classed in their own group, as a sister group to angel sharks and sawsharks. Phylogenetic placement of Echinorhinidae has been ambiguous in morphological and molecular studies, either being included within Squaliformes, considered sister to Squaliformes, or placed in a separate group with sawsharks or angel sharks. For this reason they are sometimes given their own order, Echinorhiniformes.Etymology
The name is from Greek echinos meaning "spiny" and rhinos meaning "nose".Species
Only two extant species are known:Echinorhinus brucus Bonnaterre, 1788 Echinorhinus cookei Pietschmann, 1928The following fossil species are also known:
- †Echinorhinus australis
- †Echinorhinus blakei Agassiz, 1856
- †Echinorhinus caspius Glikman, 1964
- †Echinorhinus eyrensis Pledge, 1992
- †Echinorhinus kelleyi Pfeil, 1983
- †Echinorhinus lapaoi Antunes & Cappetta, 2002
- †Echinorhinus maremagnum Bogan, Agnolin, Otero, Egli, Suárez, Soto-Acuña & Novas, 2017
- †Echinorhinus pfauntschi Pfeil, 1983
- †Echinorhinus pollerspoecki Pfeil, 1983
- †Echinorhinus pozzii Ameghino, 1906
- †Echinorhinus priscus Arambourg, 1952
- †Echinorhinus richiardii Lawley, 1876
- †Echinorhinus schoenfeldi Pfeil, 1983
- †Echinorhinus vielhus Guinot, Cappetta & Adnet, 2014
- †Echinorhinus wadanohanaensis Kitamura, 2013
- †Echinorhinus weltoni Pfeil, 1983