Comments on: An abundance of Cretaceous shark teeth

By: Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson — Mon, 31 May 2010 18:01:35 +0000

Thanks, George! Very helpful, once again. No one better than you with these teeth.

By: George Phillips

George Phillips — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:38:29 +0000

Here are my “2 cents” worth, Megan. I’m pretty certain of these IDs, but I could have Dave Cicimurri, Earl Manning, and/or Jim Bourdon check them if you wish. Nevertheless, here they are…

A-E, I = Serratolamna serrata (Agassiz 1843)
G = Carcharias sp.
H, J = two incomplete “Carcharias” (sensu lato)
F = Squalicorax pristodontus (Agassiz 1843)

By: Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson — Sun, 30 May 2010 10:47:05 +0000

Hello Elyssa: Yes — Andrew, Micah and I leave for Israel next week for work in the Cretaceous near Mitzpe Ramon. These two trips are too close together, but it will still be fun and very different!

By: Elyssa Krivicich

Elyssa Krivicich — Sun, 30 May 2010 04:11:08 +0000

Hello. I am trying to keep up with this blog but there are so many entries. So you ARE going back to Israel with a Andrew? That is amazing and I am so excited to hear about your research there.

By: Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:51:32 +0000

Well done, Andrew! I think you’re ready for you own teeth now.

By: Andrew Retzler

Andrew Retzler — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:01:18 +0000

Well here’s my thoughts on the picture…

B, C, and D – Cretoxyrhina mantelli

F – Squalicorax pristodontus or Squalicorax kaupi

A, E, G, H, and I – All of these have very similar dentition size and shape that match with Cretalamna appendiculata, Cretalamna maroccana, and Scapanorhynchus texanus. The easiest way to distinguish Cretalamna from Scapanorhynchus is by observing dual lateral cusplets, as seen on teeth A, E, and I. G and H don’t have visible cusplets and could be classified as Scapanorhynchus texanus, however, these samples aren’t complete and could have had cusplets previously.

J – Looks like two fossilized teeth together that could have also belonged to a Cretalamna or Scapanorhynchus shark.