# Protolamna

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Protolamna
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Protolamna.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protolamna
> Source revision: 1357183619
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Extinct genus of mackerel shark}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = 
| image_caption = 
| taxon = Protolamna
| authority = Cappetta, 1985
| fossil_range = [Valanginian](/source/Valanginian)-[Maastrichtian](/source/Maastrichtian)<br />~{{fossil range|140|70}}
| type_species = '''''Protolamna sokolovi'''''
| type_species_authority = Cappetta 1980
}}

'''''Protolamna''''' is an extinct [genus](/source/genus) of large [mackerel shark](/source/mackerel_shark) from the [Cretaceous Period](/source/Cretaceous_Period).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Kriwet|first1=Jürgen|last2=Klug|first2=Stefanie|last3=Canudo|first3=José I.|last4=Cuenca-Bescos|first4=Gloria|date=October 2008|title=A new Early Cretaceous lamniform shark (Chondrichthyes, Neoselachii)|journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|language=en|volume=154|issue=2|pages=278–290|doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2008.00410.x|doi-access=free}}</ref> ''Protolamna'' fossils indicate gigantism evolved early on in the history of lamniforms.

== Fossil record ==
''Protolamna'' is likely one of the most ancient [lamniformes](/source/lamniformes), known from as early as the [Valanginian](/source/Valanginian) age of Early Cretaceous (ca. 140 [Ma](/source/Megannum)).<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |date=2019-03-01 |title=A new lamniform shark Protolamna ricaurtei sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Colombia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667118303628 |journal=Cretaceous Research |language=en-US |volume=95 |pages=336–340 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2018.12.007 |issn=0195-6671}}</ref> It appears to have had a cosmopolitan distribution throughout its geologic range, with fossils found on every continent except Antarctica.<ref name=":1" /> 

== Paleobiology ==
''Protolamna'' is known from isolated teeth, and a partial dentition associated with an articulated vertebral column.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |date=2026-02-01 |title=A large lamniform shark from the Aptian of Villa de Leiva (Boyacá, Colombia), based on the first Lower Cretaceous shark specimen preserving both teeth and vertebrae |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S019566712500134X |journal=Cretaceous Research |language=en-US |volume=178 |article-number=106211 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106211 |issn=0195-6671|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Despite having small teeth (typically about 2 cm in size), from these more substantial remains, researchers have estimated a total length greater than {{Convert|6|m|ft|sp=us}}.<ref name=":2" /> This makes ''Protolamna'' the oldest-known gigantic lamniform.

From associated [dermal denticles](/source/dermal_denticles), researches have hypothesized that ''Protolamna'' was a [pelagic](/source/Pelagic_zone)-adapted predator that occupied [near-shore](/source/Littoral_zone) environments.<ref name=":2" /> As a slow but active swimmer with a tearing type [dentition](/source/dentition), it likely preyed on bony fishes, small sharks, squids, and crustaceans in its environment.

== Species ==
Seven species are currently attributed to this genus, including the following:<ref name=":0" />
* ''P. borodini''  ([Maastrichtian](/source/Maastrichtian), [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey))
* ''P. carteri'' ([Cenomanian](/source/Cenomanian), [Texas](/source/Texas))
* ''P. compressidens'' ([Turonian](/source/Turonian)-[Coniacian](/source/Coniacian), [Belgium](/source/Belgium), [France](/source/France), [Texas](/source/Texas))
* ''P. gigantea'' ([Cenomanian](/source/Cenomanian), [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota))
* ''P. ricaurtei'' ([Barremian](/source/Barremian)-[Aptian](/source/Aptian) [Paja Formation](/source/Paja_Formation), Colombia)<ref name=":1" />
* ''P. roanokeensis'' ([Albian](/source/Albian), [Texas](/source/Texas))
* ''P. sokolovi'' ([Aptian](/source/Aptian)-[Albian](/source/Albian), [Russia](/source/Russia))

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{citation |last1=Carrillo Briceño |first1=Jorge D. |last2=Parra |first2=Juan |last3=Luque |first3=Javier |year=2019 |title=A new lamniform shark ''Protolamna ricaurtensis'' sp. nov. from the Lower Cretaceous of Colombia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667118303628 |journal=[Cretaceous Research](/source/Cretaceous_Research) |volume=95 |pages=336–340 |doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2018.12.007 |bibcode=2019CrRes..95..336C |access-date=2019-03-12|doi-access=free }}

{{Taxonbar|from= Q104849003}}

Category:Prehistoric Lamniformes
Category:Lamniformes
Category:Prehistoric shark genera
Category:Cretaceous fish of Europe
Category:Fossils of Belgium
Category:Fossils of France
Category:Fossils of Russia
Category:Cretaceous fish of North America
Category:Fossils of the United States
Category:Cretaceous fish of South America
Category:Cretaceous Colombia
Category:Fossils of Colombia
Category:Paja Formation
Category:Fossil taxa described in 1980
Category:Cretaceous sharks

{{paleo-shark-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Protolamna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protolamna) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protolamna?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.