Stylidens

Stylidens refers to an extinct genus of sharks belonging to the family Ptychodontidae. These sharks lived during the Late Cretaceous period. The defining characteristic of Stylidens is its unique type of crushing teeth, which were adapted for feeding on hard-shelled prey such as bivalves, ammonites, and other marine invertebrates. The teeth of Stylidens were pavement-like, with a flat, ridged surface designed for grinding and crushing.

Stylidens fossils are relatively rare, but when found, they provide important information about the diversity and ecological roles of sharks in ancient marine ecosystems. Like other ptychodontid sharks, Stylidens likely occupied a niche as a durophagous predator, contributing to the structuring of benthic communities. The genus is recognized primarily based on its distinctive tooth morphology. Further research is needed to fully understand the paleobiology and phylogenetic relationships of Stylidens within the Ptychodontidae.