Acutalamna fossil map
Where fossils of Acutalamna have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 100 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 100 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Ancient fish & sharks |
|---|---|
| Lived | 110.1–93.9 million years ago (Albian to Cenomanian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Named by | Guinot and Carrillo-Briceño 2018 |
| Fossil records | 3 occurrences at 3 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Venezuela, Peru |
| Rock formations | La Luna, Muerto Limestone |
About Acutalamna
Acutalamna is an extinct genus of mackerel shark from the Cretaceous period. It contains a singular species, A. karsteni. The type locality is the La Luna formation of Venezuela, but teeth have been found in France, Peru, Ecuador, and Lithuania. It is possible these teeth represent new species within this genus. Teeth included in this genus were originally attributed to "Priscusurus adruptodontus". The holotype and some of type series of this species were found to be indeterminate Squalicorax teeth, thus rendering it a nomen dubium. Other teeth in the type series of "P. adruptodontus" are indeterminate members of Acutalamna. It bears resemblance to both Anacoracids and Cretoxyrhinids, but has yet to be confidently ascribed to any family.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Acutalamna (revision 1301536396), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q104856621.
