Shellseeker Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Many of you know that I have searched (almost exclusively) the Peace River for the last 5 years with some excellent results. I often go with other fossil seekers who have decades of experience with Peace River fossils. 10 days ago I found a 1.75 inch shark tooth which seemed to be Megalodon, but as you can see from the photos, it has a little something extra. I have found Giant Thresher (1), Makos (many), Megs (lots), Hemis, and Sand Tigers in the 1.5 inch and above range. What other large shark teeth have forum members found in the Peace River ? What are the possible identifications for this tooth? You can click on the 2nd photo (twice) to get a better view. The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gizmo Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Carcharocles chubutensis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcharocles_chubutensis or http://www.phatfossils.com/species.php?species=Carcharocles%20Chubutensis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Carcharocles chubutensis I have no doubts about your ID. On the Wikipedia site,..Although the teeth of C. chubutensis are morphologically similar to teeth of C. megalodon,[2] they are comparatively slender with curved crown, and with presence of lateral heels feebly serrated. but there is no cusps on their example photo. The 2nd link identifies some Chubs with cusps and others without. How do you recognize a Chub? The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickNC Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Chub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowsharks Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Definitely chubutensis or Angustidens depending on the age of the material in the Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Definitely chubutensis or Angustidens depending on the age of the material in the Peace.Generally, Peace River is dated back to early Pliocene -28 mya. I have never heard of anyone finding either a RIC or an ANGY in the Peace River. Part of my reasoning in this question is to understand how far back the Chubs, RICs, and ANGYs go. 1 The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 (edited) If you consider C. megalodon a morphospecies, then this tooth is C. chubutensis.If you consider C. megalodon a chronospecies, then this tooth is C. megalodon.But, it can't be both.See the discussion on page 86 of MEGALODON Hunting the Hunter by Mark Renz (2002).I think that the lateral cusps of this tooth are a holdover juvenile condition, OR, the cusps represent an atavism. Edited April 15, 2013 by Harry Pristis 2 http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 (edited) Shellseeker, I agree with Harry. I have seen a couple of Sharktooth Hill (Middle Miocene) and Bone Valley teeth (Late Miocene-Early Pliocene) with weak cusplets like that. By the Middle Miocene the vast majority of teeth lack cusplets and even the ones that have cusplets from and after that time should be considered megalodon. Jess Harry said:See the discussion on page 86 of MEGALODON Hunting the Hunter by Mark Renz.I think that the lateral cusps of this tooth are a holdover juvenile condition, OR, the cusps represent an atavisism. Edited April 14, 2013 by siteseer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeloiVarden Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Early juvenile meg regardless of what fancy name gets put on it. Great find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted April 15, 2013 Author Share Posted April 15, 2013 See the discussion on page 86 of MEGALODON Hunting the Hunter by Mark Renz.Thanks , Harry. In the version I have, discussion of juvenile Megs occurs on pg 88, including this quote: "Throughout the Miocene young Megs had cusps, but by the Pliocene they had lost them". As DeloiVarden implies, I am thrilled that I have something different -- A large Meg like tooth from the Peace River that has lateral cusps. I always ask questions based on finds. Do the cusps on this tooth imply a Miocene (23.03 to 5.332 million years ago) versus Pliocene (5.332 million to 2.588 million years) age for this tooth. I realize nothing is certain, but Miocene material (3-toed, Rhino, etc) seems exciting based on rarity. Rarity is a topic I would like input on --- As I indicated in my original post, none of my normal Peace River fossil hunting buddies have found juvenile Megs with lateral cusps. The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 No, because it's possible for a Pliocene meg tooth to show lateral cusplets for the same reason. Having lateral cusplets remained in the genes of the species millions of years after it was basic tooth character. Occasionally, the gene for cusplets, which had been "switched off" would switch on randomly and an individual would have teeth with cusplets. You wouldn't call it a pathology but just a rare expression of an ancestral trait. Yeah, it's very rare to see a Bone Valley meg with cusplets - probably just as rare for the Peace River. Shellseeker said: As DeloiVarden implies, I am thrilled that I have something different -- A large Meg like tooth from the Peace River that has lateral cusps. I always ask questions based on finds. Do the cusps on this tooth imply a Miocene (23.03 to 5.332 million years ago) versus Pliocene (5.332 million to 2.588 million years) age for this tooth. I realize nothing is certain, but Miocene material (3-toed, Rhino, etc) seems exciting based on rarity.Rarity is a topic I would like input on --- As I indicated in my original post, none of my normal Peace River fossil hunting buddies have found juvenile Megs with lateral cusps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 "Re-expressive" genes are one reason why life is so resilient; continuously pushing the envelope is not a job for new mutations alone. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbshark Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 Nice find regardless what you call it.lol.I know a guy who found one at a site in sarasota with cusps on it but its the only other one I've seen in the immediate area in 13 years hunting. Every once in a great while it's not just a big rock down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 Nice find regardless what you call it.lol.I know a guy who found one at a site in sarasota with cusps on it but its the only other one I've seen in the immediate area in 13 years hunting.Exactly -- I have checked with 20-25 fossil hunters who have some experience with the Peace River -- None of them has found a Meg with cusps. This one is rare and I am thankful to have found it. It has its own riker box The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 It deserves a Riker with a solid gold frame! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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