Prehistoric shark jaw found in Kentucky mine

ABC News is reporting that a 300-million-year-old partial shark jaw was recently discovered in a Kentucky mine. Jay Dixon, a mine operator, discovered the fossilized shark jaw in February.

Gerald A. Weisenfluh, the associate director of the Kentucky Geological Survey, says the jawbone is from a shark species of the Edestus genus, which lived during the Carboniferous Period (359.2 – 299 million years ago).

The jaw contains teeth that are 2″ in width at the base of the jaw and extend 2-2.5″ in height. The largest portion of the jaw bone is 18″ in length. Weisenfluh estimated the entire length of the jaw would have 30″. Weisenfluh also noted that this species had a permanent set of teeth unlike modern sharks who continually shed teeth throughout their lifetimes.

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About George Probst

George T Probst is an award-winning American photographer best known for his underwater great white shark photography. In addition to his work underwater, Probst travels to schools, businesses, and communities for public speaking events to discuss the importance of sharks and ocean conservation.

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