Description
Fossilised squalicorax or Crow Shark Tooth, Composite
This fossilised Squalicorax or ‘Crow’ Sharks tooth is set into matrix. Although this is a composite it has a superb natural look, and makes a good display piece. It is from Oued Zem, Khouibga, in central Morocco. This is a country well known for its huge variety of fossils and minerals. This fossilised sharks tooth is around 70 million years old and from the Cretaceous period.
The actual name Squalicorax comes from Greek meaning ‘Crow Shark’. Their teeth are very distinctive, being triangular and heavily serrated they also have a curved crown. Like other species of shark the squalicorax were able to shed worn or damaged teeth. They were then able to grow new ones to replace them, whenever necessary. This being one of the reasons why fossilised sharks teeth aren’t incredibly rare. Like other species of shark, the squalicorax didn’t have bones, only cartilage. It is therefore the fossilised teeth that are preserved. Although these sharks were smaller than some species they still grew up to 5 metres in length. They fed on fish, turtles and were also scavengers, feeding on dead mosasaurs and plesiosaurus.
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