Strophodus
Strophodus is an extinct genus of durophagous hybodont known from the Triassic to Cretaceous. It was formerly confused with ''Asteracanthus.''
Taxonomy
It has long been confused with Asteracanthus due to the fin spines of the latter being found associated with the teeth of Strophodus. However, both genera can now be reliably be distinguished base on the morphology of both the fin spines and teeth.Description
Species of Strophodus had heavily rounded, durophagous crushing teeth, contrasting strongly with those of Asteracanthus, which are much more similar to those of Hybodus. Species of Strophodus have been estimated to reach up to in length, making them some of the largest hybodonts. Like Asteracanthus, but unlike other hybodonts, the fin spines of Strophodus are covered in tubercles rather than being ribbed.Ecology
Strophodus has been interpreted as a bottom-dwelling animal that fed on hard-shelled invertebrates, though isotopic evidence has suggested that it may have been pelagic. It may also have been euryhaline.Species
Species of Strophodus:- S. reticulatus Middle-Late Jurassic England, France, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland. A similar form S. cf. reticulatus is known from the Middle Triassic of Switzerland
- S. atlasensis Middle Jurassic Morocco
- S. smithwoodwardi Early Jurassic Switzerland
- S. dunaii Middle Jurassic Hungary
- S. tenuis Middle Jurassic Germany, England
- S. longidens Middle Jurassic France
- S. magnus Middle Jurassic France, India, England
- S. indicus Middle Jurassic India
- S. jaisalmerensis Middle Jurassic India
- S. medius Middle Jurassic India, France, England
- S. subreticulatus Late Jurassic Switzerland
- S. timoluebkei Late Jurassic Switzerland
- S. udulfensis Late Jurassic Switzerland, ?England
- S. tridentinus Late Jurassic Italy
- S. rebecae Early Cretaceous Colombia