Show us your Squaliformes teeth !!!

[fossilsonwheels]

I have decided to create some collection threads for various shark teeth. I would like to use these to promote some of the less frequently seen shark teeth. We see plenty of Megatooth, GW's etc but some pretty awesome sharks do not get much love here. I wanted to set this up by taxonomic orders and see what my fellow shark nuts want to share. I think this is a great way to not only share our collections but also build a database that may help help collectors ID teeth or get some idea of what exists to be collected.

 

I love Squaliformes sharks. They are among the the most biologically interesting sharks to have existed. Among the truly fascinating adaptations they have are bioluminescence, biological antifreeze for extreme cold temperature survival, protruding jaws in one species and even pockets ! They represent the smallest sharks but some such as the Pacific Sleeper and Greenland Shark can grow very large. The Greenland Sharks are the oldest known vertebrates on the planet with life spans of possibly longer than 500 years and are the slowest swimming fish. The Largetooth Cookiecutter shark has the largest teeth per body size of any living shark. They are also weird looking sharks that can capture the eye. Google search Rough shark or Pocket Shark or the Viper Dogfish. They are bizarre looking creatures yet perfectly adapted to some of the harshest environments on our planet.

 

For shark tooth collectors they present numerous challenges. Many are deep water sharks with few known fossil locations. Some types of Squaliformes may only be known from one or two fossil sites. Many are small sharks with very small teeth which add to the difficulty in finding them. Rarity creates demand and my experience has shown me that not only are they hard to find, collectors hold on to their Squaliformes teeth. I am not even sure how far back they go in the fossil record as Fossilworks notes Triassic Squaliformes from France but I found no available information beyond a notation.

 

I apologize for the long introduction and biological information that most of you probably know. I am bored educator with no one to educate about sharks lol  I would encourage my fellow TFF members to share not only your teeth but your knowledge and fun facts swimming around your brain about the amazing and weird Squaliformes.

[fossilsonwheels]

Since I started the thread, I’ll share first  

 

The oldest Squaliformes tooth in our collection is this tiny tooth from the Albian of the UK

 

Protosqualus siglei

Lower Cretaceous 

Small Dole

Oxfordshire, UK

 

Tiny but super cool tooth from an extinct Squaliformes genus. 

[fossilsonwheels]

Our oldest tooth from an extant Squaliformes genus is this Bramble from Down Under. Side note, this remains our only Australian shark tooth. 

 

Echinorhinus australis

Upper Cretaceous 

Council Quarry Pit

Queensland, Australia

 

I dig this tiny tooth. 

 

Scientific note- molecular studies suggest Brambles are more closely related to Angelsharks and Sawsharks than Squaliformes. I assume eventually they will be moved from this order but until then I include them. 

[fossilsonwheels]

Our oldest Squalus tooth

 

Squalus crenatidens

Paleocene

Ouled Abdour Basin

Morocco

 

 

 

 

[fossilsonwheels]

Cookiecutter Sharks are bizarre and really cool. Carter and I loved talking about them during our programs. Quite a few kids knew of them and we’re pretty lucky to have a few teeth to show off. Our oldest example. We do not have a lot of Nanjemoy stuff either so pretty happy with this tooth. 

 

Isistius trituratus

Eocene

Nanjemoy Formation 

Stafford County Virginia 

[fossilsonwheels]

Another Bramble tooth

 

Echinorhinus priscus

Eocene

Qued Zem

Morocco

[siteseer]

Hi Kurt,

 

Great thread.  I have some squaliforms but they are tough to photograph.

 

I once saw an Echinorhinus tooth from the Late Cretaceous of Hornby Island, BC, Canada as large as any Miocene-Recent one I've ever seen.  It was surprising when you see the vast majority of Cretaceous teeth are more like your Australian tooth in size.

 

Jess

 

 

[siteseer]

Off the cuff, I think that Triassic record of a squaliform may be an error.  The group is known from the late Jurassic.  I can't think of earlier finds than that so it would be interesting to read the article that record is based on.

 

Jess

[fossilsonwheels]

On 10/14/2020 at 5:10 PM, siteseer said:

Hi Kurt,

 

Great thread.  I have some squaliforms but they are tough to photograph.

 

I once saw an Echinorhinus tooth from the Late Cretaceous of Hornby Island, BC, Canada as large as any Miocene-Recent one I've ever seen.  It was surprising when you see the vast majority of Cretaceous teeth are more like your Australian tooth in size.

 

Jess

 

 

Hi Jess 

 

I recently saw a Hornby Island Bramble on the auction site. It was an interesting specimen but I had to pass. 

 

I have more to add to this but haven’t had time. Hopefully other people will contribute as my collection is pretty boring lol 

 

Kurt

[fossilsonwheels]

Continuing with a couple of Dogfish teeth 

 

First one up came from you @siteseer ! 

 

Squalus sp

Late Paleocene 

Aquia Formation 

Liverpool point

Charles Co. Md

 

Next up a lovely little European Squalus 

 

Squalus smithi 

Eocene

Ampe Clay Pit

Egem Belgium 

[fossilsonwheels]

Back to Cookiecutter teeth 

 

Isistius triangulas 

Miocene

Bonpas 

Vaucluse Region France

 

The Vaucluse region of France has a couple of locations that have really interesting deep sea shark faunas. Lots of interesting and rare Squaliformes among other the rare sharks. 

[siteseer]

Here is an Echinorhinus from the Middle Miocene Olcese Sand.  It's a layer that underlies the Round Mountain Silt in the Kern County area of California.  In terms of absolute age, the Olcese is about 17 million years old while the Sharktooth Hill Bonebed, which is in the upper part of the Round Mountain Silt , is about 15.5 million years old.  Within the Olcese there is a rather thin shell layer in the upper part and that's where you find shark teeth too.  It's not much time geologically but the shark faunas are different.  You don't find Carcharodon hastalis nor C. planus at all.  You find numerous Isurus oxyrinchus (I. desori) teeth.  By contrast in the STH Bonebed both Carcharodon species are abundant while I. oxyrinchus is uncommon.  Echinorhinus is more common in the Olcese than in the STH Bonebed but specimens are generally broken (just enough to ID).  Sometimes, you get a good one.

 

This tooth is about 16mm wide and 10mm high.

 

Jess

[MarcoSr]

A few of the Miocene Squalus sp. teeth (5mm to 9mm) that I have from the East Pit of the Ernst Ranch in Bakersfield California.  I really like the colors of these teeth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marco Sr.

[fossilsonwheels]

6 hours ago, siteseer said:

Here is an Echinorhinus from the Middle Miocene Olcese Sand.  It's a layer that underlies the Round Mountain Silt in the Kern County area of California.  In terms of absolute age, the Olcese is about 17 million years old while the Sharktooth Hill Bonebed, which is in the upper part of the Round Mountain Silt , is about 15.5 million years old.  Within the Olcese there is a rather thin shell layer in the upper part and that's where you find shark teeth too.  It's not much time geologically but the shark faunas are different.  You don't find Carcharodon hastalis nor C. planus at all.  You find numerous Isurus oxyrinchus (I. desori) teeth.  By contrast in the STH Bonebed both Carcharodon species are abundant while I. oxyrinchus is uncommon.  Echinorhinus is more common in the Olcese than in the STH Bonebed but specimens are generally broken (just enough to ID).  Sometimes, you get a good one.

 

This tooth is about 16mm wide and 10mm high.

 

Jess

I’d say that tooth is worthy of one those Golden Drool Bucket awards here lol That is an amazing tooth from a great location Jess !! 

 

I know the Olcese teeth are more common that STH ones. Elasmo has a section detailing that. That is such a great specimen. I’m also just happy to see others contributing to the thread as I didn’t want my humble collection to be the only teeth here lol 

[fossilsonwheels]

48 minutes ago, MarcoSr said:

A few of the Miocene Squalus sp. teeth (5mm to 9mm) that I have from the East Pit of the Ernst Ranch in Bakersfield California.  I really like the colors of these teeth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marco Sr.

I think the colors you find at STH are the best of any shark teeth. Your Squalus teeth are beautiful ! I was hoping you’d stop by and contribute Marco Sr. 

[MarcoSr]

A Miocene Isistius cf triangulus tooth from the Lee Creek Mine, Aurora NC.  I only have a couple of these from Lee Creek.

 

 

 

 

 

Marco Sr.

[MarcoSr]

A Miocene Centrophorus aff. granulosus (3 mm X 3 mm) and a Miocene Deania aff. calceus (2 mm X 1.5 mm) from Mazan, Schlier Formation, France.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marco Sr.

[siteseer]

Hi Marco Sr.,

 

Those are great shots of great specimens.  They are not just great for the color.  They show some of the foramina in the roots which are often difficult/impossible to see because they get filled in by fine sediment or the roots get eroded.  All that vascularization leaves the roots rather fragile but some Squalus teeth from the STH Bonebed have nicely mineralized and still intact roots.

 

I have a shot of a Squalus tooth taken to show the foramina but it didn't come out as well so I didn't post it.

 

Jess

[MarcoSr]

2 hours ago, siteseer said:

Hi Marco Sr.,

 

Those are great shots of great specimens.  They are not just great for the color.  They show some of the foramina in the roots which are often difficult/impossible to see because they get filled in by fine sediment.or the roots get eroded.  All that vascularization leaves the roots rather fragile but some Squalus teeth from the STH Bonebed have nicely mineralized and still intact roots.

 

I have a shot of a Squalus tooth taken to show the foramina but it didn't come out as well so I didn't post it.

 

Jess

 

Jess

 

I find with Squalus teeth from most sites that the roots do get badly eroded.  But I had never really thought about why that is so.  Thank you for pointing out the vascularization.

 

Marco Sr.

 

 

[Al Dente]

Here are some Isistius that I've posted before.

 

 

[Al Dente]

Here's a modern tooth from squalus acanthias that I caught several years ago in NC. They are good tasting.

 

 

Here's a Paleocene Squalus from the Aquia. Large serrations.

 

 

[Al Dente]

Here's a Cretaceous one from the Peedee Formation of NC.

 

 

 

 

And a Miocene one from the Pungo River of NC.

 

 

[fossilsonwheels]

4 hours ago, Al Dente said:

Here's a Cretaceous one from the Peedee Formation of NC.

 

 

 

 

And a Miocene one from the Pungo River of NC.

 

 

Great teeth. I love the Pee Dee Formation tooth. I’m glad we get to see a Cretaceous Squalus tooth. A little jealous of that one lol

[fossilsonwheels]

5 hours ago, Al Dente said:

Here are some Isistius that I've posted before.

 

 

Very nice Cookiecutter teeth. Excellent addition to the thread. 

[fossilsonwheels]

14 hours ago, MarcoSr said:

A Miocene Centrophorus aff. granulosus (3 mm X 3 mm) and a Miocene Deania aff. calceus (2 mm X 1.5 mm) from Mazan, Schlier Formation, France.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marco Sr.

I love those Mazan teeth. Rare teeth, rare location, and really nice color. Quite beautiful. Thank you for posting these.