Sharks had been around for millions of years before the dinosaurs even evolved, and they of course continued to thrive during the age of dinosaurs. Among the oldest of these fish was the Hybodus, which had been around since the Carboniferous. During the Jurassic, they patrolled the seas, hunting fish and small marine reptiles.

Basic info

Meaning of name: Hybodus means "humped tooth".

Time of existence: Hybodus lived from the late Carboniferous all the way to the late Cretaceous, 303.4 million to 66 million years ago.

Diet: Hybodus was a carnivore, and fed on many things in the seas, from fish to squid to marine reptiles. While they would hunt live prey, they were also not opposed to scavenging off of the kills of larger predators like Liopleurodon.

Threats: While among the top predators in the oceans today, during the Jurassic, they were easy prey to larger marine reptiles like Liopleurodon. They would also be in danger from the tropical storms that ravaged the islands.

Size: Hybodus grew to 6 feet long.

Attributes: Like modern sharks, Hybodus had strong jaws that helped it hunt prey and tear meat from carcasses. However, a major difference from modern sharks was that Hybodus had a spine on its dorsal fin, which was most likely used for defence when being attacked by predators. They also had strange horns on its head, most likely only being used as feelers to know what was going on around them.

Hybodus patrols the Jurassic sea

Appearances in the Walking with... series

Walking with Dinosaurs

Episode 3-Cruel Sea

Hybodus is a recurring creature in the episode. They are not referred to by name, however, and are simply referred to as sharks. Hybodus first appears in the episode when a female Ophthalmosaurus is having trouble giving birth. Sensing her distress with their acute hearing, the sharks begin to move to her location. Once they arrive, they begin to move in for the final attack. As one moves in closer, it is startled by a giant silhouette in the gloom. The massive creature is a Liopleurodon, and it attacks the mother, ripping her in half. As her tail sinks to the seabed, the Hybodus begin to move in to feed on the leftovers.

A pair of Hybodus sense a struggling Ophthalmosaurus

Later, two weeks after this incident, a Hybodus is seen lurking near where the Ophthalmosaurus pups are hiding. It swims around, waiting for the right moment to strike. As one pup begins to swim out of his coral hiding place, the shark lunges towards it, but misses. He then makes a dash for the surface as the shark rushes towards him. His speed prevails, and the Hybodus gives up, swimming away. Hybodus makes a final appearance near the end of the episode, where one is seen swimming near the pups' hiding place once again, although at this point the pups are about three months old. As the Hybodus swims, it is unaware that the hungry Liopleurodon is setting up an ambush, intending to ambush the shark as he swims past a rock. However, the shark is scared off by the sudden arrival of a female Liopleurodon. The male sees her off by tearing into her fin, and she swims away, a trail of blood following her. Naturally, the sharks take advantage of this and trail behind her. It is unknown what becomes of her, but it is possible the Hybodus kill her. This is also the final appearance of the sharks, as they do not appear again.

Chased by Sea Monsters

Episode 1-Dangerous Seas

Hybodus is only seen on the time map, where it is seen before the Ordivician section.

Episode 2-Into the Jaws of Death

Hybodus once again only appears on the time map, where it can be seen before the Eocene section.

Episode 3-To Hell...and Back?

Hybodus is first seen on the time map before the Jurassic segment. It plays a fairly minor role in the Jurassic segment as well, where it is first seen swimming around a sick Leedsichthys, stalking it. Nigel then spots the Hybodus swimming under him, before the shark charges towards the pectoral fin of the fish, tearing a chunk out of it. The Hybodus swims around the fish as a Metriorhynchus also takes a chunk out of the fish's dorsal fin. The Hybodus takes a chunk out of the fish's abdomen before the two predators swim away. Hybodus is last seen on the time map before the Cretaceous segment.

Hybodus in Chased by Sea Monsters