In Depth Reginaselache is an interesting find as the xenacanthid sharks are often associated with just Europe and North America, although remains are also known from India. With Reginaselache being discovered in Australia it would seem that the xenacanthids were possibly widespread across all the major continents. Xenacanthid sharks like Reginaselache were more eel-like in … Read more
In Depth An ancient ray, Spathobatis was actually similar to a guitarfish in form. The snout was slightly elongated which meant that it could be used to shovel through soft sediment like mud in order to uncover shellfish that had buried themselves for protection. Spathobatis is regarded as one of the earliest prehistoric rays, though … Read more
In Depth Not only was Orthacanthus very similar to the smaller Xenacanthus, it also has a similar temporal range in the fossil record. The two sharks probably coexisted with only the minimum of competition between the two. This is because at only one meter long, Xenacanthus could operate in waters that were too small or … Read more
In Depth Teeth and vertebra - The fossils of megalodon The teeth are by far the most common remains of C. megalodon with the larger teeth approaching 18 centimetres in height. It is uncertain for how long people have been collecting C. megalodon teeth, but it was not until 1667 that science recognised them as … Read more
In Depth Named in 2010, Akaimia has been interpreted as being similar to carpet sharks of the Orectolobidae (more commonly known as wobbegong sharks). If Akaimia lived like those carpet sharks today, then it would have lurked around the bottom where its colouration and patterning allowed them to blend in ‘out of sight’ of other … Read more
In Depth Sphenacanthus is a genus of xenacanthid shark that has a known temporal range stretching from the late Devonian period all the way to the late Permian. Sphenacanthus is believed to have been a freshwater shark that inhabited waterways and swamps were individuals likely hunted for fish, other smaller sharks and possibly amphibians such … Read more
In Depth Otodus was bigger than any other carnivorous fish in the sea today, being one and half times bigger than the largest recorded great white shark. This large size however does not mean that Otodus was an apex predator as it would have had to share the seas with other predators such as Basilosaurus, … Read more
In Depth Triodus was similar to other sharks such as Xenacanthus and Orthacanthus, and it too also seems to have lived in the freshwater swamps and waterways that covered much of ancient Europe and North America. Fossil evidence of Triodus shows that it actively pursued prey like juvenile amphibians (still in their larval stages, they … Read more
In Depth Also known as the Zechstein shark, Wodnika appears to have been very much like a modern day bullshark. In life Wodnika was a small shark that would have swam in the Zechstein Sea that covered much of northern Europe, where Wodnika likely patrolled near the bottom looking for prey like crustaceans. When found … Read more
In Depth Aquilolamna is a genus of fish confirmed to have lived in the ocean around Mexico during the late Cretaceous. The name Aquilolamna means ‘eagle shark’, a reference to the long ‘wings’ formed by the pectoral fins and the general shark-like body. However, at the time of the naming of the genus, Aquilolamna was … Read more