Dwardius - Shark

Fossil photo | Fri 9 Dec 2011  

Anterior (front) tooth of a shark called Dwardius, collected from the 105 million-year-old, lower part of the Gearle Siltstone. The population of Dwardius sharks differ from those of named species of the genus so it is possible that we are dealing with a new, undescribed species. Dwardius belong to the same order of sharks as the white shark and grey nurse shark. One of the lobes of the root is broken off. The ‘root’ of a shark tooth is not a root in the strict sense as it is not secured in a deep depression in the jaw. In sharks and rays collagenous fibres attach the tooth-base to a dental lamina that covers the cartilaginous jaws.