Cochliodus contortus

Cochliodus contortus Agassiz is known from an isolated pair of mandibles fused in the midline, with heavily inrolled dental plates. But the systematic status of the name Cochliodontiformes or variants, is very uncertain. The name cochliodont was associated with many isolated dental plates by Owen and subsequently by other authors in the later 19th century. As yet there is no whole fish to go with the lower jaws of Cochliodus contortus.

Reference:

• Owen, R.  1867.  On the mandible and mandibular teeth of cochliodonts.  Geological Magazine 4:59-63.
• Lund, R., and E.D. Grogan, 1997.  Cochliodonts from the Mississippian Bear Gulch Limestone Heath Formation; Big Snowy Group, Chesterian) of Montana and the relationships of the Holocephali. Dinofest International Symposium, Proceedings: 477-492.

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