Parahelicoprion clerci

Parahelicoprion clerci, an extinct species closely related to Helicoprion bessonowi, hails from the early to middle Permian period (around 290 to 270 million years ago) and represents an important link in the evolution of the bizarre, spiraled tooth whorl characteristic of the Helicoprion lineage; while Parahelicoprion shares many features with its predecessor, including the characteristic tooth whorl thought to be used for slicing through mollusks and other prey, it exhibits subtle differences in its dental structure and overall body morphology, suggesting slight evolutionary adaptations that may have improved its predatory efficiency; fossils of Parahelicoprion clerci, primarily consisting of teeth and jaw fragments, have been found in marine sediments, offering key insights into the diversity of early cartilaginous fish and providing a more nuanced understanding of the development of specialized feeding adaptations in the group, which would eventually give rise to more modern sharks; the peculiar, coiled teeth of Parahelicoprion also highlight the complexity of early marine ecosystems and the innovative ways in which predation strategies evolved during the Permian period.