The Paleozoic micro shark collection

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I starting photographing some of the micro shark remains we’ve found in our matrix searches. I’m taking a break from fossils for awhile and from TFF so I wanted to get some of these posted. 

 

The ID’s are educated guesses based on publications I’ve read. I’m open to other suggestions. This originally started as a way to add some Devonian shark material but has really been a fantastic learning experience too. We’ve added some fossils to the collection for sure and some hard to find early shark genera. The knowledge gained is the big thing and it has been super fun. 

 

Few complete teeth and difficult to photograph with the equipment I have access to but you should get the general idea. 

 

We will start with the oldest first. 

 

Genundewa Limestone

Devonian (Givetian) 

Eighteen Mile Creek

Erie County

Eden New York

 

Phoebodus sp. 

 

Partial teeth are common in this matrix. We’ve found quite a few. This is small selection. Hard to photograph. This will be a fun shark to talk about. Very strange and similar to a modern Frilled Shark. 

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Omalodus sp

 

More common than Phoebodus in this matrix. I am not convinced there is only one Omalodus or Omalodus-like shark in this fauna. There are different morphologies present but I haven’t enough complete teeth to be sure. Either way, a very cool early shark to have some teeth from. 

Protacrodus sp

 

During my last search of this matrix I got a surprise. I found this partial tooth that based on publications and other teeth in the collection seems to be Protacrodus. The only example I found and I searched quite a bit of matrix. 

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Thrinacodus sp

 

Another surprising find was a couple of partial teeth that resemble Thrinacodus. The pictures won’t show it clearly but I’m pretty sure that is what they are. 

Dermal denticles 

 

There have been quite a few dermal elements in this matrix. A couple of distinct morphologies. 

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On to the D/C Bounday. This matrix is sold as Devonian but I’ve seen that disputed here. I split the difference and call it D/C Boundary. The teeth seem to best fit a publication from Australia on D/C sharks so I went with. I haven’t searched a lot of this matrix but have found some cool stuff

 

Maple Mill

Kalona Iowa 

 

Phoebodus sp

 

Our best Phoebodus tooth came from this matrix and it’s the most common tooth in our limited searches. 

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Protacrodus sp

 

 

We have found a few partial teeth and they are pretty cool. Easily identifiable and fairly common. Not the best pictures. 

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Protacrodontidae 

 

Not sure that is the correct phrasing. These teeth look similar to Diehim and one looks like  Dalmeodus. Again not sure of the spelling. I can edit later. Based on the D/C publication. That fauna had multiple Protacrodontids and this one did as well. 

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Cladodoides sp

 

This tooth looks quite similar to teeth in the D/C paper identified as Cladodoides. I am not at all sure of the ID but that was the best educated guess I’ve got. The smaller tooth could also be I guess. 

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I don’t know what these are. I did find a publication that had a similar tooth to the second one and that identified as Sphenacanthidae. 

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Prospect Hill

Mississippian

Kalona Iowa

 

I am still searching this matrix. It is the smallest matrix and very difficult to pick. The teeth are tiny, sparse and fragmented but it’s a really cool fauna. 

 

Thrinacodus sp

 

I have found a few partial but easily identifiable teeth from this eel like early shark. The condition of the teeth doesn’t bother me as it’s such a cool genus. 

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One of the more interesting pieces I found is this roughly 4mm fossil. This from the Genundewa Limestone and is Devonian in age. I’m including this amongst the shark fossils though I can not say for sure it is shark. My ID is based on some research but I’m far from knowledgeable enough to be confident. 

 

I think this could be part of a shark skull. I think it has some similarities to a few Paleozoic shark skulls I’ve seen in publications. I have not found anything else quite like it in my micro searches. It could be a different fish for sure but for the time being I will go with shark as the ID. 

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A closer view of some Prospect Hill Thrinacodus teeth. These are actually some of the cooler looking teeth I’ve found. I’d love a complete one but I’m not going to complain as it’s just a neat shark to have in the collection!