The fossil of a type of shark with petal-shaped teeth, which dates back to 290 million years ago, has been found in China for the first time, expanding its paleogeographic distribution, according to Chinese researchers.
The fossil of seven well-preserved Petalodus teeth was discovered in the Qianshi limestone in Yangquan City, north China's coal-rich Shanxi Province.
The study showed that the specimens are characterized by petal-shaped teeth with a spade-like crown and a long, tongue-shaped root.
Study also suggests that Petalodus already had the ability to migrate across oceans, and that it may have been a top predator with strong swimming skills.
The research has been published in the English edition of the latest issue of Acta Geologica Sinica.
In terms of size, the shark's tooth fossil is similar to the tooth of the great white shark. It can be estimated that it is a prehistoric giant shark with a body length of 3 to 5 meters.
So far, the fossil of the shark species has been found in multiple places in the earth's Northern Hemisphere. (Xinhua)
Researchers from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology proposed that the Umenocoleidae is likely a specialized taxon of Dictyoptera, sister to Alienoptera. The beetle-like appearance is a result of convergent evolution.
An international team, for the first time, discovered a dinosaur preserved sitting atop a nest of its own eggs with fossilized babies inside.
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