Cretolamna is an extinct mackerel shark which lived during the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods, during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs, approximately 90 to 50 million years ago.

 The fossils of Cretolamna are of teeth and a few scattered vertebrae. Most teeth average about 1 to 2 cm (about .5 to .75 in) long. Most estimates put the shark's length at about 2–3 m (7–10 feet) long with the largest specimens being about 3.6 m (12 feet) in length.

 Cretolamna was a widespread genus in North Africa (Morocco) and North America on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Deposits in Morocco are usually Eocene in age, while most deposists in the U.S. are of Cretaceous and Paleocene age. C.Maroccana is more prevalent in Morocco. C.Appendiculata is more prevalent in the United States. Both species overlapped at one point in time.

 Cretolamna was a predator and preyed upon large bony fish, turtles, mosasaurs, squids, and other sharks. It was a medium-sized predatory shark.

 Cretolamna is believed to have evolved into the Otodus genus sometime in the Paleocene. Otodus is believed to have evolved later into the Carcharocles genus. Others believe that Cretolamna evolved into the Paleocene shark Palaeocarcharodon, which would evolve into Carcharodon Carcharias.

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Tags: Вымершие рыбы, Мел, Хрящевые

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