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PATHOLOGICALLY DEFORMED OTODUS
OBLIQUUS ( MACKERAL
SHARK ) TOOTH -
Khouribga, Morocco
PALEOCENE
PERIOD: 60 million years ago
As
seen in the photos above, this pathologically deformed Otodus tooth is
quite interesting in its traits. On the reverse side, it seems as
though some type of serious factor inhibited the normal growth of the
enamel. This caused a severe cyst-like formation and stunted the
edge of the tooth. Furthermore, the side cusplets are seriously
stunted. One is still intact (third to last photo) but the other
has been damaged in excavation. Pathologically deformed fossils
have a devout collector following all their own. They are an
interesting branch of fossil collecting and can provide insight and
information into the developmental problems with prehistoric creatures.
This
fossilized shark tooth once graced the ferocious jaws of a large shark
now extinct, called the Mackeral Shark, otherwise known as Otodus
obliquus. This creature is
thought to be at the heart of the White shark family tree and is found
in hard sandstone rock matrix in the phosphate mines in Khouribga, Morocco.
The
Mackeral Shark was king of the Paleocene seas 60 million years
ago and is the prehistoric ancestor of the modern Great White Shark.
The
features of these teeth are common to all Otodus species, a massive root
and large separate cusplets flanking the much larger, and heavy center
crown. The characteristics
indicate a highly developed and efficient hunter-killer. FASCINATING
DEFORMITY! 2.7" in length on the diagonal edge $75
SH203
INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX
Actual
Item - One Only
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