This prehistoric shark with ‘fangs’ was top predator after dinosaurs died

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Scientists have found a brand new shark species in Alabama that had needle-like fangs and have become one of many ocean’s top predators after the extinction of the dinosaurs.

The species, named Palaeohypotodus bizzocoi, lived about 65-million-years-ago – the interval following the mass extinction occasion that worn out greater than 75 per cent of life on Earth, together with the dinosaurs.

Researchers say the shark species with small needle-like fangs current on the perimeters of its enamel was the main predator when the oceans had been recovering after the extinction occasion.

“Shark discoveries like this one give us tremendous insights into how ocean life recovers after major extinction events and also allows us to potentially forecast how global events, like climate change, affect marine life today,” paleontologist Lynn Harrell, who was a part of the invention, stated.

During this time, within the geological interval often known as the Paleocene, a lot of the southern half of Alabama was coated by a shallow tropical to sub-tropical ocean, scientists say.

The newest discovery was made by researchers combing by means of over a dozen fossil shark enamel collected from Wilcox County over 100 years in the past and stashed on the Geological Survey in Alabama.

The assortment of enamel included 9 from the higher jaw and eight from the decrease half with some having one or two pairs of fangs, or cusplets.

Scientists in contrast the fossil enamel to these of varied residing sharks, like Great Whites and Makos, and shortly found that they belonged to a brand new yet-unidentified species that lived throughout the Paleocene.

“This time period is understudied, which makes the discovery of this new shark species that much more significant,” Dr Harrell stated.

Researchers additionally reconstructed the dentition of the traditional species and confirmed that its tooth association differed from that of any residing shark.

They have named the species P bizzocoi, for the late Birmingham archaeologist Bruce Bizzoco (1949-2022) who served as a Dean on the Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa.

Based on the most recent findings and of over 400 distinctive species of fossil sharks and bony fish within the area, researchers say Alabama could have been one of many richest locations on this planet when it comes to marine range in prehistoric instances.