A Jurassic Gem Unearthed

Researchers have made an astonishing discovery along the U.K. coast—an ancient shark, now named Pararhincodon torquis, that swam the waters over 70 million years ago! A far-off cousin of the modern collared carpet sharks found in Australia and Southeast Asia, this remarkable species sheds light on prehistoric marine life.

Why Are Shark Fossils So Rare?

Sharks have been ocean dwellers for over 450 million years, yet their delicate, cartilage-based skeletons rarely fossilize. Consequently, scientists often rely on fossilized teeth and scales, which, while more common, don't provide the complete picture of these magnificent predators.

Exciting Discoveries Through Cutting-Edge Scanning

Thanks to innovative CT scans by a team led by Dr. Richard Dearden from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, two fossils housed at the Natural History Museum revealed the surprising existence of this new species of collared carpet shark. Dearden explains that ‘Pararhincodon’ means 'nearly whale shark', yet these ancient creatures were less than a meter long.

Paying Homage to History

To capture the unique identity of this ancient shark, Dearden chose the name torquis, inspired by the Iron Age neck rings worn by Celts. This signifies that P. torquis is an ancient European collared carpet shark, distinct from its modern relatives.

Accidental Discovery Leads to Groundbreaking Findings

The fascinating journey of P. torquis began serendipitously when Dearden was exploring a different fossil, Synechodus, in museum collections. These fossils stood out as they were preserved in 3D in the exceptional British Chalk rocks, known for their exquisite fossil preservation.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Past

Emma Bernard, curator of fossil fish collections, notes that these fossils were rapidly buried, allowing their 3D structures to endure. Unlike other fossils composed of more durable materials like bone, shark fossils are exceedingly rare, making this discovery all the more precious.

From 3D Scans to Tiny Tooth Discovery

Further CT scans confirmed that the specimens were not what they were believed to be. To make their case, the team needed to extract minuscule teeth embedded in the chalk, a meticulous job entrusted to fossil preparator Kieran Miles. Using CT scans as a map, Miles skillfully excavated the teeth, eventually preparing them for examination under an electron microscope.

Revolutionizing Our Understanding of Shark Evolution

The findings highlight that P. torquis presented distinct anatomical features compared to modern sharks. As researchers compared these ancient individuals with contemporary species, they gleaned insights into how collared carpet sharks evolved over millions of years.

Tracing the Journey Across Oceans

Interestingly, while P. torquis fossils were sourced from southern England, modern collared carpet sharks flourish in tropical and subtropical waters half a world away. This raises intriguing questions about how and when these creatures migrated as continents drifted and ecosystems transformed.

An Evolving Mystery

One particular finding sparked curiosity: the unique structure of the shark’s fin, which possesses two base components compared to the typical three. This challenges previous assumptions about their evolutionary timeline, indicating changes that occurred long after they diverged from their modern counterparts.