Some shark teeth in need of ID help

[fossilsonwheels]

I have a few shark teeth that require second opinions on the IDs. All are East Coast of the US. 

 

First up, a Pungo River micro. 4mm or so. This is a familiar tooth form to me as I’ve seen this exact tooth in STH micros. I had put teeth of this exact form in with Cetorhinus teeth because it’s so common in STH micro mix. I could be wrong about the ID on the STH teeth plus Pungo River is different as I believe Cetorhinus teeth are quite rare in that fauna. Both STH and PR have Cetorhinus and Alopias teeth. I believe there is a close familial relationship between those genera so I figured best to get other opinions before labeling this a Basking Shark. 

I had a very, very small amount of Lee Creek micros to pick through, like half a sandwich bag. The odds of finding a Cetorhinus in that amount of matrix would be astronomical lol It’s probably why I doubt my ID. 

 

@siteseer @sharkdoctor @Al Dente @sixgill pete

 

Anyway, here it is. Cetorhinus or Alopias or door #3 ? 

Edited January 21, 2022 by fossilsonwheels

[fossilsonwheels]

A Calvert Formation mystery. 2mm tooth that doesn’t look like the Catshark teeth I find in this matrix. I know without a root it’ll be hard to confirm an ID but worth trying at the least. 

It looks more like a Triakis to me than Catshark but Triakis isn’t on the Calvert fauna list. Could it be reworked from another formation or I am off in my ID ? 

[fossilsonwheels]

Another Calvert mystery. 2-3mm. Does not look fish or mammal to me. Looks shark but I have no clue what shark it could be so maybe it’s not shark at all. It bore a superficial resemblance to a Whale Shark crown from the first angle I saw but I don’t think that’s the answer. 

[fossilsonwheels]

I can’t give specific location info but this tooth is East Coast US and Oligocene in age. I found a few Hemipristis curvatus in this matrix and I believe that’s what this is but I’d like to confirm that. 5mm in size. 

[Al Dente]

31 minutes ago, fossilsonwheels said:

Anyway, here it is. Cetorhinus or Alopias or door #3 ? 

I would call this one Alopias.

[sixgill pete]

15 minutes ago, Al Dente said:

I would call this one Alopias.

I agree, posterior probably.

[sixgill pete]

32 minutes ago, fossilsonwheels said:

I can’t give specific location info but this tooth is East Coast US and Oligocene in age. I found a few Hemipristis curvatus in this matrix and I believe that’s what this is but I’d like to confirm that. 5mm in size. 

Definitely not Hemipristis. I am getting a Pachyscyllium vibe from this tooth. I have found these in the Oligocene of N.C.

Edited January 22, 2022 by sixgill pete

[fossilsonwheels]

Cool. That means I’ve got a couple of additional STH Alopias. Thank you both 

[fossilsonwheels]

Just now, sixgill pete said:

Definitely not Hemipristis. I am getting a Pachyscyllium vibe from this tooth.

I wasn’t able to find a Hemi that matched so even though I thought Hemi, I can see where that vibe is coming from. Thank you the input. 

[siteseer]

Hi Kurt,

 

Yeah, it's tough with a partial but I was thinking maybe an odd Galeorhinus tooth though it seems too big for that especially since it's incomplete.  It's big for a cat shark too.

 

That other tooth does resemble what a whale shark looks like when the root wears away - tough to say.

 

Jess

[fossilsonwheels]

On 1/21/2022 at 6:01 PM, siteseer said:

Hi Kurt,

 

Yeah, it's tough with a partial but I was thinking maybe an odd Galeorhinus tooth though it seems too big for that especially since it's incomplete.  It's big for a cat shark too.

 

That other tooth does resemble what a whale shark looks like when the root wears away - tough to say.

 

Jess

Hi Jess 

 

Thanks for the input. It’s tough with the partials for sure. For now, they can stay mysterys lol 

 

Kurt

[sharkdoctor]

On 1/21/2022 at 6:31 PM, fossilsonwheels said:

A Calvert Formation mystery. 2mm tooth that doesn’t look like the Catshark teeth I find in this matrix. I know without a root it’ll be hard to confirm an ID but worth trying at the least. 

It looks more like a Triakis to me than Catshark but Triakis isn’t on the Calvert fauna list. Could it be reworked from another formation or I am off in my ID ? 

 

It is common for teeth to be reworked into the basal Calvert bed. If that tooth is from one of the samples I sent, it could be from the Piney Point or Woodstock formations. 

 

[fossilsonwheels]

7 minutes ago, sharkdoctor said:

 

It is common for teeth to be reworked into the basal Calvert bed. If that tooth is from one of the samples I sent, it could be from the Piney Point or Woodstock formations. 

 

Hi Aaron

It is from the basal Calvert you sent and that makes sense. The closest tooth I’ve seen to that crown are Triakis teeth from Nanjemoy. Elasmo has an example that is really similar. 

That may also explain the teeth that look like Pachyscyllium and not the other Scyliorhinids. Excellent information. 

Kurt