Goblin Shark

[RJB]

I just watched a facinating show last night about the goblin shark. While watching and understanding that this is a somewhat deepwater shark, I was wondering if any of you shark teeth guys have any fossilized goblin shark teeth? That would be cool to see.

RB

[Northern Sharks]

Fossil Goblin shark teeth, both Scapanorhynchus and Anomotodon are moderately common. This is one of the few cases where a modern tooth is probably more valuable than it's fossil counterpart. I'm at work, so I can't post a pic, but some of you NJ folks must have some. They look pretty much the same as Sand Tiger teeth.

Edited April 29, 2010 by Northern Sharks

[THobern]

They're really just like slender Striatalamia sp. without the cusps.

[Ramo]

Here are some from the Codell Sandstone of Kansas. I've seen others from different locations in Kansas, but none bigger than those I find in the Codell.

Ramo

[siteseer]

Here are some from the Codell Sandstone of Kansas. I've seen others from different locations in Kansas, but none bigger than those I find in the Codell.

Ramo

I've seen Scapanorhynchus teeth around two inches from sites in Alabama and South Carolina.

[siteseer]

I just watched a facinating show last night about the goblin shark. While watching and understanding that this is a somewhat deepwater shark, I was wondering if any of you shark teeth guys have any fossilized goblin shark teeth? That would be cool to see.

RB

While Scapanorhynchus (Early-Late Cretaceous) and Anomotodon (Late Cretaceous-Eocene) are considered goblin sharks, the modern genus is Mitsukurina. Its teeth as fossils are rare both in number of known sites and relative rarity at those sites (Eocene of Australia; Miocene of France) as it has apparently been a deepwater shark across its evolution. Scapanorhynchus was a shallow water form but Anomotodon may have been more of an open water-deepwater animal.

Sometimes, you will see modern teeth for sale. I heard some jaws were for sale several years ago.

I saw a show called "Quest for the Goblin Shark" recently on the Science Channel (probably the same one you just saw). It was a Japanese show translated for American television. I liked that show too partly because most other shark shows are about watching great whites or about shark attacks. This one focused on a little known species, an idea which the Discovery Channel should consider and explore for a future "Shark Week."

[lordpiney]

here you go...lateral, and anterior scapanorynchus texanus teeth from nj.

[Darwin Ahoy]

I've got hundreds at this point (mostly partials, but probably 50-75 complete ones). Here's my largest complete, at about 1.5 inches.

Some more. The 1.5 incher is in the top left, for scale.

[RJB]

Thanks fella's. I had assumed that the modern goblin is a bit rare that fossil teeth would be rare. In any case, its nice to learn something. I havent touched a fossil in months. Im going through fossil hunting withdrawls too!

RB

[Rover]

I've always liked Goblin Shark teeth... it's like somebody nailed little fish-skewers into a fish's mouth, and set it loose upon the world.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

Scapanorhynchus teeth are not uncommon here in TX in Campanian age rocks (Ozan, Sprinkle, and Anacacho fms). They are often found in the same zone as Squalicorax kaupi.

[Haddy]

Scapanorhynchus teeth are not uncommon here in TX in Campanian age rocks (Ozan, Sprinkle, and Anacacho fms). They are often found in the same zone as Squalicorax kaupi.

In NJ, we find Goblin teeth in the streams / brooks along with Squalicorax, but they are much more common than the Squalicorax. http://www.njfossils.net/cover.html

[MOROPUS]

But the actual Goblin sharks aren`t Mitsukurina species?

Actual Mitsukurina Goblin Shark

[Bill]

But the actual Goblin sharks aren`t Mitsukurina species?

Actual Mitsukurina Goblin Shark

Hi Moropus, I'm not sure I understand you, ..... from your link.....

'The goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, is a deep-sea shark, the sole living species in the family Mitsukurinidae'.

[MOROPUS]

Hi Moropus, I'm not sure I understand you, ..... from your link.....

'The goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, is a deep-sea shark, the sole living species in the family Mitsukurinidae'.

You are talking about "Scapanorhynchus" as Goblin shark; but the actual "Goblin shark" is Mitsukurina.

Is it an extinct specie?

[Haddy]

You are talking about "Scapanorhynchus" as Goblin shark; but the actual "Goblin shark" is Mitsukurina.

Is it an extinct specie?

It appears that the Mitsukurina is the present-day representative, while the other 2 genus are extinct (Scapanorhynchus and Anomotodon).

I clicked through the Wikipedia link above and found this:

Scapanorhynchus ("Spade Snout") is an extinct genus of shark from the Cretaceous era. Their extreme similarities to the living goblin shark, Mitsukurina owstoni, lead some experts[who?] to consider reclassifying it as Scapanorhynchus owstoni. However, most shark specialists regard the goblin shark to be distinct enough from its prehistoric relatives to merit placement in its own genus.

Scapanorhynchus had an elongated, albeit, flattened snout, and sharp awl-shaped teeth, ideal for seizing fish, or tearing chunks of flesh from its prey.[1]

This has some decent info on our local extinct species, Scapanorhynchus texanus:

http://www.njfossils.net/Goblin.html

They are really strange-looking according to these 2 sites:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070209-goblin-shark.html

http://dsc.discovery.com/sharks/goblin-shark.html

And thanks to the OP - would like to see that program -- I'll see if I can find it, but if you have a link to it, that would be great! I was able to find this clip, and it's really strange how the mouth can protrude:

http://science.discovery.com/videos/quest-for-the-goblin-shark-deep-bite.html

Edited May 17, 2010 by Haddy