Paleontica Community

Hi,

I wondered if anyone could help me identify this shark tooth, found at Treldenæs, Denmark. My initial thought was Heptranchias howelli, but I can’t seem to match the pictures found from other sources perfectly.

Thanks.

Hi Mikkel,

Well it looks like a Heptrachias to me too. I haven't much experience with this species but you found it in an Oligocene layer and the two Heptrachias I know of from the Oligocene are:Heptranchias ezoensis and Heptranchias tenuidens.
Maybe one of the 'specialist' here can help you further on your quest.

Regards,

Martijn

[Bewerkt door Supergraver op 17-02-2009 om 21:01 NL]

Hi Mikkel,

Take a little look here: http://www.elasmo.com/selachin/slides/s ... ?sp=sharks


Regards,

Martijn

WOW!! VERY NICE indeed. Heptranchias sp. it is! Don't know the specific name though. Cappetta (1987) mentions 2 or 3 species:
*H. enzoensis, Oligocene, Japan
*H. tenuidens, Upper Oligocene, Venezuela
*H. howellii, Eocene and Oligocene of northwest USA.
It is possible the two last species are synonyms.
Maybe contact Sylvain Adnet at Clermont-Ferrand university in France, the only person I know of who's working on fossil hexanchids?

That's an excelent tooth, great find, as far as I know Heptranchias howelli has been found there before. I would say Heptranchias howelli with a small question mark

Are you sure the find is oligocene and not eocene? I am aware of simular teeth from the Lillebelt frm. in DK. Adnet indeed describes Heptranchias howelli from the eocene of France. Welton (1974) decribes it from the eocene of US and canada. I can sent you a copy of the article if you want (drop me a mail).

isis schreef:
Are you sure the find is oligocene and not eocene? I am aware of simular teeth from the Lillebelt frm. in DK. Adnet indeed describes Heptranchias howelli from the eocene of France. Welton (1974) decribes it from the eocene of US and canada. I can sent you a copy of the article if you want (drop me a mail).

Oops indeed, both Oligocene and Eocene are exposed in Treldenæs.

Martijn

Tandenzoeker: Yes, it is a good one. Thanks for the tip about Sylvain Adnet. Do you happen to have any contact information about him, in example an e-mail address?

Galeocerdo: There is information about a previous finding of Heptranchias howelli on Trelde næs. However I haven’t been able to get this confirmed, so I have my doubts about it as well.

Isis: There are both Palaeocene and Eocene layers on Trelde næs, but the tooth was not found in the clay, but among the sand and stones on the beach beneath the hills. That makes it difficult to precisely when it’s from.

“I can send you a copy of the article if you want (drop me a mail)” Done

Regards

Mikkel Rødvig,


[Editted by rodvig on 27-02-2009 at 16:52 GMT +1]

rodvig schreef:
Galeocerdo: There is information about a previous finding of Heptranchias howelli on Trelde næs. However I haven’t been able to get this confirmed, so I have my doubts about it as well.

I can confirm that for you. I have a (less well preserved) specimen from the Lillebelt frm and know other collectors with specimens as well.

Very nice!!