Knowledge of fossil sharks (chondrichthyans) has advanced tremendously over the past decade
giving scientists a window into a historically understudied branch of the evolutionary tree of
fishes and revealing anatomies and ecologies just as diverse and fascinating as those of bony
fishes (osteichthyans). This volume assembles cutting-edge research on the biology anatomy
and evolution of sharks and bony fishes featuring works by paleobiologists and associated
researchers from 11 countries spanning topics from taxonomy to statistical methodology in
honor of Professor John G. Maisey for his pioneering work on Paleozoic chondrichthyan anatomy
taxonomy and paleobiogeography over his half-century career at the American Museum of Natural
History. With an introduction and 16 chapters this volume erects two new families and two new
genera and provides 160 figures and illustrations and 29 plates including the most
comprehensive collection of high-resolution images of a rare fossil shark held predominantly in
private collections.
