330 million year old shark head discovered in Kentucky

University of Kentucky Research!

330 million year old shark head discovered in Kentucky



According to a new discovery, the area known as Kentucky was once home to a shark. Researchers have discovered the remains of 20 prehistoric sharks in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, a recent announcement has been made. Among the findings was a 330 million-year-old head of a giant shark preserved in the cave wall; Its teeth are spreading with limestone.

In Earth's far past, the landmass now known as North America was mostly covered by oceans. These oceans were home to large sharks, among other things, that would naturally die over time and be covered in sediment. After the vast changes of this time period, the oceans retreated, sedimentary limestone formed, and the entire cave system was formed.

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Fossil remains of these prehistoric sharks can be found embedded in cave walls, although the detection of teeth from limestone is not a specific discovery. The newly found shark dates back to the latest Mississippian period, shedding light on the sharks present during that swirl of Earth's history.

Although preserved shark teeth are not uncommon, fossil cartilage detection is rare due to its soft nature. Scientists investigating the new discovery found that some part of the shark's head is preserved in the cave wall, not just the teeth, jaws and chin sections.

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The remains were first discovered by Mammath Cave scientists, according to CNN, the report found that paleontologist John-Paul Hodnett was approached with images of the discovery. Hodnett himself visited the site last November and found that the discovery involved more than just teeth, including parts of the shark's head.