In an exciting paleontological discovery, researchers have unearthed fossils from a previously unknown species of shark. The find was made deep in Mammoth Cave National Park, in the United States.
Named after Strigilodus Tollesonae, the new species It is distinguished by its small spoon-shaped teeth, marking a notable difference from known sharks. The revelation occurred in a timely manner, coinciding with National Fossil Day, celebrated on October 15th.
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Choosing the name “Strigilodus tollesonae” is a tribute to Kelli Tolleson, guide at Mammoth Cave National Park and the main person responsible for discovering sites fossils of great relevance.
The name “Strigilodus” refers to the distinctive scraper teeth found on this type of shark.
Mammoth Cave Superintendent Barclay Trimble expressed his excitement regarding the discovery pioneer, characterizing it as “the first species of shark newly found in the caves of Mammoth Dig.”
What makes this finding even more intriguing is the determination that the Strigilodus tollesonae It bears more similarities to the modern ratfish than to the sharks that populate today's oceans.
This sheds light on the complexity and diversity of the evolutionary history of these marine predators.
The discovery resulted from hard work carried out by a multidisciplinary team made up of geologists, paleontologists, park employees and volunteers.
(Image: disclosure)
These experts have dedicated themselves to identifying and collecting fossils since the beginning of the paleontological resource inventory in 2019.
Superintendent Trimble emphasized the importance of this research in enhancing understanding of meaning, of the distribution and management issues associated with the fossil record found deep within Mammoth Cave.
Mammoth Cave National Park, located in Kentucky, holds the title of being the most extensive cave system known in the world, with more than 600 kilometers of exploration recorded to date.
The discovery of Strigilodus tollesonae it joins a list of more than 40 other fossils of sharks and distant relatives found over the years, further cementing the park's importance as a treasure trove of natural history.
From these paleontological findings, we can glimpse a fascinating narrative about the evolution of life on Earth.
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