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I've been searching through lots of different North Texas micro matrix for a project and came across a little tooth that has me stumped. It's from the Duck Creek Fm (Albian), Washita Group. From the same matrix I've collected several Scyliorhinus arlingtonensis (this species is previously known from the Texas Pawpaw and Woodbine), which look similar in some aspects. However, there are distinctions that push to me wonder if this other tooth is something different. Here are some photos of the mystery tooth. I found another of the same species in worse condition as well. Mystery tooth For comparison, here is a photo of a solid Scyliorhinus arlingtonensis of which I have found several from the same matrix. Scyliorhinus arlingtonensis Why it could be Scyliorhinus arlingtonensis: I know cat sharks can exhibit a high degree of heterodonty, so that could be the culprit. Both sets of teeth have ridges on the basal portion of the labial face, as well as multiple pairs of cusplets. Both also have very flat basal root faces that flare out at the lateral ends underneath the cusplets. Why it could be something else: Only S. arlingtonensis appears to have ridging on the lingual face, and the ridging reaches quite close to the tip. On the mystery tooth, I don't see any such ridging on the lingual side. The roots vary as well. S. arlingtonensis has a root that more closely resembles a "mickey mouse head". The lateral portions of the root flare out more, like mickey's ears and the bulbous lingual apex like mickey's face. The mystery tooth, on the other hand, is more v-shaped and the lingual apex of the root nowhere near as bulbous. Furthermore, S. arlingtonensis has a strongly pronounced central foramen (the little hole at the end of the lingual apex). I don't see this feature in mystery tooth. In S. arlingtonensis, the central is cusp long, gracile, and more separated from the adjacent cusplets. The mystery tooth has a robust central cusp and is joined with the cusplets much farther up. The second pair of lateral cusplets are also much larger. I have had a tough time trying to find species online that match my specimen in every aspect. It most definitely looks closest to cat shark, but everything I've come across just misses the mark. One interesting genus was Pseudoscyliorhinus, which has large pairs of secondary lateral cusplets like mine, but again there are some major differences in things like root shape. Hopefully one of you all have some ideas or at least new leads for this case. @Al Dente @siteseer @MikaelS @MarcoSr @ThePhysicist Feel free to tag anyone I missed Thanks for reading

I've been sorting through some Kemp Clay (latest Maastrichtian) micros recently, mostly in search of rare sharks. The majority of teeth I've found are easily identified from elasmo's web page on Kemp Clay sharks which itself is based on Case & Cappetta 1997 Kemp Clay paper. However, this singular tooth does not seem to match well with any of those described species or even genera. The closest tooth I could find was Scyliorhinus ivagrantae which is still very different. I think my specimen is Pararhincodon sp., but I cannot find any reputable reports of the genus from the Maastrichtian of Texas (it does show up in the Campanian however). In Germany's Maastrichtian, there is a species called Pararhincodon groessensi which could be it. I did manage to find a senior scholar thesis from an A&M undergrad (Janus 2009) that reported Pararhincodon sp. from the Kemp Clay, so there's a sliver of evidence. Here's the photos: Lateral view Basal Labail Lingual Other views Thanks

Catsharks comprise one of the largest extant families of shark with 160 species in 17 genera and there is a good fossil record of the family in addition. The family goes back to the Jurassic and can be found in several well known, heavily collected formations but I have found this to be a very challenging shark to collect. It is tooth that seems to stay in collections which I completely understand. They are tiny, tiny teeth and you have to be hunting for very tiny teeth to find them. They can also be very rare within a fauna which is the case with Sharktooth Hill as I have learned. Extant Catsharks appear in a variety of habitats and at varying depths. This seems to be also be true of extinct Catsharks which can be found in a variety of habitats. The opportunities exist to find cool Catshark teeth but they stay just elusive enough to make them quite a challenge to collect. Scyliorhinidae hold a special place in our collection. They were a shark that we talked about in every Fossils on Wheels shark themed program we did. One of my favorite personal finds is a Scyliorhinus I picked out of some Cretaceous micro fossil mix. I prize that 1mm tooth like few in my collection. Carter and I both believe that our Lebanese shark fossil is that of a Catshark. It is a shark that I am almost always on the lookout for and an STH Scyliorhinus is sort of my white whale lol I am pretty interested to see what Catsharks might lurk in the great collections here. I have seen some really sweet specimens here so I would invite anybody who to share to show us your awesome Catshark teeth.

Can anyone identify the species of this catshark tooth? Its Campanian from the Tar Heel formation of North Carolina, Neuse River specifically. Its 2 mm in size. Thanks.

Hi everyone, I just ordered this beautifull shark fossil from Lebanon, I saw it passing by on the webshop of one of my favorite fossil dealers and it was love at first sight! Just had to get this when I saw it, really love the preservation on it. The shark was found in Hajula, Byblos, Lebanon and is from the Cretaceous, Cenomanian (98 mya). I was only hoping if someone could tell me which species it might belong to. I am pretty sure it's some kind of catshark or carpetshark, but it turns out there are multiple of these in the Lebanon deposits like Pararhinchodon, Scyliorhinus elongatus and Paratriakis curtirostris. Also the shark measures, 12 inches / 30,50 cm So any help would be welcome! Thank you in advance!

Here are a couple more micro teeth that I think are very interesting. I picked these up a month or so ago. They were sold as a pair and labeled as Cantioscyllium. They are from the Taylor Marl, Campanian stage, Cretaceous of Landonia Texas. That is the information the seller provided along with an uncertainty about the ID. I purchased them believing the ID was not correct. I thought the larger one was a Cat Shark tooth. The smaller one I had no clue about. I have found nothing on line about the fauna of the formation so I am flying blind as far as that goes. I still think the larger one may be a Scyliorhinus. That is based only on similarities with some teeth I have seen from Cretaceous New Jersey. The little one I am still absolutely clueless on. I did find a Eocene Cat shark tooth that looked similar but I really do not know. Pic 1 and Pic 2 are the larger tooth. Right around 4mm

Is this tooth Parascyllium, Proscyllium, or Scyliorhinus?