Squatiniformes Temporal range: Late Jurassic–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Squatina dumeril
Fossil of Pseudorhina from the Late Jurassic of Germany
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Subdivision:	Selachimorpha
Superorder:	Squalomorphii
Order:	Squatiniformes Compagno, 1973
Families
†Pseudorhinidae Klug and Kriwet, 2012 † Pseudorhina Squatinidae Bonaparte, 1838 † Cretasquatina † Cretascyllium † Parasquatina? Squatina

Squatiniformes is an order of sharks belonging to Squalomorphii. It contains only a single living genus Squatina, commonly known as angelsharks. The oldest genus of the order, Pseudorhina is known from the Late Jurassic of Europe. ^[1] Three other genera, Cretasquatina, Cretascyllium and Parasquatina are known from Cretaceous fossils from North America and Europe, ^{[2] [3]} though the placement of Parasquatina in the order has been questioned. ^[1] All living and extinct members of the order share a similar body morphology ^[2] with a highly flattened body with enlarged pectoral and pelvic fins suggestive of a bottom-dwelling ambush predator ecology. ^[4] Teeth have been assigned to the modern genus from the Late Jurassic onwards, but the actual genus assignment of many of these species is unclear. ^[2] The earliest records that can be assigned with confidence to the modern genus are known from the Early Cretaceous ( Aptian) of England. ^[1]

References