Carcharodon plicatilis (meaning "Bended japped/shapped-tooth" in Ancient Greek), also known as giant white shark, or broad-toothed mako, is an extinct species of giant lamnid shark that lived between the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene epochs, probably between 7.1 and 3.6 million years ago. It is also considered one of, if not, the largest species of shark of the family Lamnidae, and is considered a related species to the modern great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), and possibly a direct ancestor to it, or a transitional species between C. hubbelli and C. hastalis.
The body size is estimated in 5.2 and 7.6 meters (17.6 and 25 ft) in length, with a possible average size of 5 meters (16.4 ft) in length. Fossils similar to C.plicatilis was also found dating to the Early Miocene and Late Pliocene epochs, between 20 and 3 million years ago in North America, Peru and Europe. The validity of this species is in dispute, it is often considered as a junior synonym of C. hastalis, but some studies have suggested that C. plicatilis is a valid species and very closely related to the former. C. plicatilis is also known as Isurus xiphodon, depending on the classification.
The classification of C. plicatilis is in debate. It was originally named by Louis Agassiz as species of the genus Oxyrhina , as "Oxyrhina xiphodon" or "Oxyrhina plicatilis". Glickman (1964) reclassified this species in a separate genus, Cosmopolitodus. He named the type species C. hastalis, and three other species, C. plicatilis, C. xiphodon, and C. trigonodon. In 2017 the names C. plicatilis and C. xiphodon were recombined by Alberto Collareta as junior synonyms of Carcharodon plicatilis. The name C. trigonodon is considered a junior synonym of C. hastalis, in part.
Today, the C. plicatilis is placed in the genus Carcharodon , and a possible synonym of C. hastalis or a nomen dubium. But some studies of 2021 and 2023 challenged this view, suggesting that C. plicatilis is a valid species, closely related to C. hastalis, C. hubbelli, and the modern great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias).
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Many paleontologists agreed with this view, but some raised concerns about this view, suggesting that the differences highlighted may be due to sexual dimorphism within the same species.
C. plicatilis is a large species of white shark, it is estimated to be between 5.2 and 7.6 meters (17.6 and 25 ft) in length, the average size is estimates is similar to the modern-day great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias).
The teeth of C. plicatilis are more robust than C. hastalis, and the shape of the teeth varies greatly from individual to individual. Its teeth are quite similar to those of C. hastalis, which is why it is some palaeontologists suspect that it is not a distinct species, but rather a synonym or individual variation.
Fossils of C. plicatilis have been found in deposits dated to the Miocene and Pliocene of North America, Europe, Australia, as well as possibly Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Portugal and South America. Fossils of C. plicatilis are very rare and that is why it is difficult to distinguish it from other species, as well as to synonymize it, especially with C. hastalis.