''Pseudorhina'' is an extinct genus of stem angel shark seemingly restricted to the Mesozoic of Europe. It is represented by several articulated individuals as well as isolated teeth. There are four species.

Taxonomy and relationships

''Pseudorhina'' is currently the oldest known angel shark genus. It is thought to represent a basal offshoot within Squatiniformes and has been placed in a monotypic family called Pseudorhinidae. While most fossil genera and species of angel shark are represented solely by isolated teeth, ''Pseudorhina'' is relatively well known from articulated individuals. This allows a rare opportunity for detailed comparisons with other genera known from articulated remains including the extant ''Squatina''.Maisey, J. G., Ehret, D. J., & Denton, J. S. (2020). A new genus of Late Cretaceous angel shark (Elasmobranchii; Squatinidae), with comments on squatinid phylogeny. ''American Museum Novitates'', ''2020''(3954), 1-29. Modern angel sharks are much more specialized than ''Pseudorhina'', neurocrania show little morphological disparity in extant ''Squatina''.

Distribution and temporal range

All late Jurassic angel shark teeth currently known are attributed to ''Pseudorhina''. The genus is currently restricted to Europe. ''P. acanthoderma'' is known from the late Kimmeridgian of Germany in layers which produce ammonites such as '' Hybonoticeras beckeri'' and '' Lithacoceras ulmense''. It is known from both isolated teeth and associated material. ''P. alifera'' is known from the early

Tithonian In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 152.1 ± 4 Ma and 145.0 ± 4 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the K ...

of Germany and similar teeth currently labeled as ''P. aff. alifera'' have been described from the Valanginian of France. Associated specimens are known. There seems to be another undescribed species with a unique tooth morphologynfrom the Tithonian of Germany. ''P. frequens'' is known only from isolated teeth from the early Kimmeridgian. ''P. crocheti'' is known from more than 250 isolated teeth from the Valanginian of France.Guinot, G., Cappetta, H., & Adnet, S. (2014). A rare elasmobranch assemblage from the Valanginian (Lower Cretaceous) of southern France. ''Cretaceous Research'', ''48'', 54-84.

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References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1557969 Prehistoric cartilaginous fish genera Squatiniformes