Studies on the Paleozoic selachian genus Ctenacanthus Agassiz. No. 3, Nominal species referred to Ctenacanthus. American Museum novitates ; no. 2774

Abstract

"All known nominal species of the Paleozoic chondrichthyan genus Ctenacanthus are listed, together with information concerning provenance, whereabouts of type material (where known), important subsequent references and comments on the probable affinities of each species. Other references to undetermined Ctenacanthus spp. are listed chronologically. Of some 100 species, 10 are considered totally invalid; the holotypes of five others are known to be lost or destroyed; four others are founded on inadequate material; 10 are referred to the Acanthodii; eight are referred to another spine genus, Acondylacanthus; three are referred to Asteroptychius; nine are referred to Sphenacanthus; 20 are referred to various other genera; eight are considered close to Ctenacanthus but are excluded from it; and 23 are left in Ctenacanthus. Of the latter, however, eight are probably synonyms of the type species, C. major, and consequently only 15 species are retained. Of these, seven are from the Upper Devonian and eight are from the Lower Carboniferous; all are from marine strata. This stratigraphic range is much less than the previous records have suggested"--P. [1].