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Associated Tooth Set of the Late Cretaceous Lamniform Shark, Scapanorhynchus raphiodon (Mitsukurinidae), from the Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas

2002; Kansas Academy of Science; Volume: 105; Issue: 1 & 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1660/0022-8443(2002)105[0018

1938-5420

Shawn A. Hamm, Kenshu Shimada,

Fish biology, ecology, and behavior

The occurrence of the first associated tooth set of the Late Cretaceous Lamniform shark, Scapanorhynchus raphiodon (Mitsukurinidae), is described from the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Chalk in Gove County, Kansas. The specimen, which consists of five small teeth, represents the most recent (Late Coniacian) occurrence of the species in Kansas. Morphological variation observed in the tooth set confirms the presence of heterodonty in the dentition of this taxon. By comparing the teeth of S. raphiodon with those of the extant mitsukurinid shark (Mitsukurina owstoni), the total body length of the fossil individual is estimated conservatively to be 59 cm. Similar to M. owstoni, S. raphiodon possibly fed on small fishes and squid, but this idea is yet to be confirmed.