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Showing results for tags 'ptychodus'.
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Our Shark Education Program- The Ginsu and The Crushers
fossilsonwheels posted a topic in Member Collections
Our last post ended with goblin sharks and the next era up in the presentation is one of my favorites. We get to the large sharks of the Cretaceous. This is also where the adaptations get more specific and where the science gets more heavy duty for the kids such as discussing regional endothermy. I am a firm believer than you do not "dumb down" complicated science to elementary students. You simplify and explain, you do not dumb it down. First up are the giant crushing sharks, Ptychodus. We present both P. mortoni and p. whipplei though most of the discussion is about mortoni. The kids will learn that there were at least 22 species of Ptychodus sharks, they are Hybodontid sharks and they were found in many locations around the world. They were plentiful in the Western Interior Seaway. They were large, probably very slow swimming bottom dwelling invertebrate eating specialists. We imagine them as looking similar to giant nurse sharks with features of the hybodonts. The focus is on those teeth and we have quite a few to show the kids. We explain how the separate teeth formed a plate like dentition for crushing shells. Next up is one of my favorite sharks, Cretoxyrhina mantelli. The Ginsu Shark gives us the rare chance to really described a prehistoric shark without theorizing much. The fossil record has been generous and this is a very well studied shark. We will explain to the kids that these were large sharks, up to 26 feet, and they looked very similar to modern Great Whites in general appearance. Despite being smaller than some of the monster marine reptiles, they were an apex predator. The key adaptation is the regional endothermy. For kids this goes like this... They had red muscles closer to the body axis and specialized blood vessels that allow for heat exchange. This means they were in a sense warm-blooded and this is a trait seen in modern sharks like Threshers, Makos and White Sharks. They could tolerate colder water than other species and were probably extremely fast sharks. I think the kids will get this concept and they will think this was one cool, though also kinda warm, shark lol At some point, I would love to add Cardabiodon to the program but have not seen around for sale so I assume they are rare and likely expensive. Anyway, the fossils for the program. Pic 1 One of the Ptychodus mortoni teeth we have from the Niobrara Chalk in Kansas. We have six and several are partial but put them all together in a Riker mount and they look pretty good. Pic 2 Ptychodus whipplei teeth from Kamp Ranch formation. We have a small assortment of these teeth and use them in the lab and as giveaways too. Pic 3 Cretoxyrhina mantelli from the Niobrara Chalk. Not the biggest tooth out there but one that I am very thankful to have. I will add more of these as we go along mostly because I love this species !!
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- 2
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- big sharks
- cretaceous
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So my 8 year old son and I did our first ever trip to go find fossils. Attached is what we found in our very untrained 2 hour trip! Haha I literally have no experience outside of reading on this forum from time to time. We may have just picked up some rocks but they looked like fossils to us. I know most most of the teeth are probably goblin and I believe we found 2 Ptychodus. The main things I’m wondering about are the long piece slim piece next to the Ptychodus (possible whale tooth?), two vertebrae looking pieces, the egg shaped piece, and the white pieces. Not sure if they are bones of if they are just random trash we picked up thinking they were treasures. Haha All our tooth fragments Item on right? Egg shaped item Vertebrae? Vertebrae? Cant tell if this tooth is broken or just worn Cool little shell in a rock formation No clue? Looks like bones in rock but could be just river muck This looks like a little flipper but not sure
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We just started hunting for shark teeth in August and have found many, but finding the ptychodus teeth is my favorite. I just wanted to show you guys our collection of them so far. Are these all whipplei?
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- 9
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- grayson county
- poc
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These are some of the fossils I found a couple of weeks back . Wonder if anyone knows what the last tooth is ?
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A few weeks ago I was working an exposure of the middle Turonian Kamp Ranch member of the Arcadia Park Formation in North Texas, using a chisel and the natural bedding planes to pull up slabs. I had been there less than 15 minutes and had only found one small, broken tooth amongst shell hash when I found this almost perfect medium sized Cretodus crassidens. I also found some smaller shark teeth including Ptychodus sp., miscellaneous vertebrate material, and ammonites of possibly multiple species. So far this specimen is my largest from the site The first thing I noticed about it was the white color of most of the enamel and strange patterns covering the exposed tooth. It looked like it had been recently exposed and weathered, but since it was only exposed by me pulling up slabs that is not possible. All the other teeth I found there didn’t have this type of preservation but had the normal brown enamel. I have searched for pictures of any other teeth with patterns like this, but so far nothing. I prepared it out of the rock and can see that the patterns occur on both the front and back of the blade and root. It is 35 mm diagonal and 25 mm root width. It was resting just a few millimeters above a large inoceramid shell. The tooth is perfect except that the tip of the left cusp broke off before fossilization. There are certain areas where the blade isn’t white and there are no patterns, but for the most part the pattern covers the tooth. I was also able to rub off a bit of the white with my finger, but it seems that the patterns are embedded in the tooth itself since it is also on the root. Here are some pictures. I am hoping the origin of these patterns can be explained and any links and/or pictures of other teeth like this can be provided. The first three are before prep and the rest are after. Thanks in advance! FIG 1. FIG 2.
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From the album: In-Situ Shots(various locations)
6-9-18 Denton County, TX -
From the album: Other Locations
4-14-18 Lake Texoma Grayson County, TX -
From the album: Other Locations
4-15-18 Grayson County, TX -
Thought I would share this little guy. Wife found it on the shores of Lake Texoma on the border of TX and OK. Latissimus?
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I explored a new creek spot on the North Sulphur River and had a good day with a nice variety. The Native American pottery and artifacts were a nice surprise at NSR. I rode over to Post Oak Creek only to find my favorite spot posted so I explored a new spot for one hour and found a few nice teeth.
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Found this interesting piece the other day at the north sulfur river. The overall shape reminds me of a couple of the larger Ptychodus teeth i have but the texture looks completely different. Looking forward to some input. Thanks!
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Found this cool tooth in matrix while hunting with my son this weekend. Not a lot found in matrix where I hunt so cool addition.
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My wife and I found five Ptychodus latissimus from the same small pocket in the Atco Member basal conglomerate in the last seven months here in Travis County, Texas USA. I am pretty proud of these finds given the rarity of the teeth.
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- 6
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- atco
- latissimus
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Hit the creek for a while. It has been hit pretty hard since the rains a week ago and the holiday traffic. Found the usual potpourri of pieces and parts and found four very worn Ptychodus right off the bat. Luck changes as I work my way up the gravel bar. Found several nice P. whipplei including the largest I have ever found just over an inch wide. Found a beautiful small P. mortoni and a sweet complete S. raphiodon. I also found what at first looked like a Ptychodus shard but when I got home and cleaned it up, I believe it is a small piece of coprolite. Weather couldn’t have been better. 60 degrees but creek was still frozen solid in shady areas. Had the place to myself the entire time. Still looking to add a couple new species to the collection. So far five down.
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Found this beauty a couple of weeks ago. I have identified it as P. atcoencis because of the chevron pattern but the crown is very low and it has more ridges then teeth I have previously found. Thoughts?
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I went to Post Oak Creek in Sherman, Texas today, and I found quite a good mix. A few of the teeth were a bit unusual. In the 4th photo I have a few questions. On the top row, second tooth from the right, is that a rodent tooth? Then (4th picture) second tooth from the right, that one has a strange “hook to it”. Also, second row, third from the right. Anyone know what those are? Thanks in advance!
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I spent the morning screening in the Post Oak Creek of Sherman, Texas today. I found lots of small shark teeth...all different types. Tooth enamel from Mastodon/Mammoth and bits and pieces.
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Found this partial tooth today. Thinking it is Ptychodus decurrens. A first for me.
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Found this this morning while going through some of the POC gravel I brought home last weekend. Whatever it is, it's a first for me from the POC. Looking online and in the forum, it sort of has the look of Ptychodus mortoni. Am I close or way off base? If I'm way off base, give me a break. I turned my thinker off once the work week ended. Thanks in advance David
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Hi all My son and I found this ptychodont tooth this morning at Post Oak Creek in Sherman, TX. I think it's Ptychodus mammillaris; however, I also considered Ptychodus anonymous. A photo (quarter for size comparison) is below. I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!
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According to geologic map this location belongs to Austin Chalk. This is a construction site, the rock color change from tan to gray. I found this specimen in the gray shale like matrix. Is it a baby Ptychodus tooth? I have never seen a flat top before
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Hi all I found these two ptychodont teeth from Post Oak Creek in Sherman, TX. I've looked at Welton and Farish's book and through the ptychodus ID page on the Fossil Forum. My best guess is that the first set of three photos are of Ptychodus atcoensis (there is a slight chevron pattern to the ridges, though one end is disrupted by a crack). The second set of two photos is of Ptychodus latissimus (best guess) since there is some granulation at the margin, the crown is low (root is missing in specimen), and the few ridges are relatively sharp (worn tooth). I wanted to see what other members thought. Thanks!
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Nice to be back hunting. Found a few nice Ptychodus teeth out of the Eagle Ford this morning. One fresh and one badly weathered. 86-90 mya
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- 1
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- cretaceous
- ptychodus
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Got a new case for some of my Ptychodus whipplei teeth I have found over the past couple of years. Still need one more. Was inspired by a trip with the Dallas Paleo group last week and thought they deserved better than a jar.
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Found this large Ptychodus in a creek running through Eagle Ford Group(86-92 mya). Could it be Rugosus? Max size is 46 mm, this one is 40.6 mm/1.6 in. Thanks!
