Specimen: Prehistoric Shark Vertebrae
Genus/Species:
Era:
Age: 25 Ma
Location:
Size: .5"-.75"
Notes:
This table contains the geological time periods of the past 2.5 billion years on Earth to aid in understanding age immense age of these fossils.
(Ma = Mega-annum = 1,000,000 years)| EON | ERA | PERIOD | EXTENT (Ma) | DURATION (Ma) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | 2.588–Present | 2.588+ |
| Neogene | 23.03–2.588 | 20.4 | ||
| Paleogene | 66.0–23.03 | 42.9 | ||
| Mesozoic | Cretaceous | 145.5–66.0 | 79.5 | |
| Jurassic | 201.3–145.0 | 56.3 | ||
| Triassic | 252.17–201.3 | 50.9 | ||
| Paleozoic | Permian | 298.9–252.17 | 46.7 | |
| Carboniferous | 358.9–298.9 | 60 | ||
| Devonian | 419.2–358.9 | 60.3 | ||
| Silurian | 443.4–419.2 | 24.2 | ||
| Ordovician | 485.4–443.4 | 42 | ||
| Cambrian | 541.0–485.4 | 55.6 | ||
| Proterozoic | Neoproterozoic | Ediacaran | 635.0–541.0 | 94 |
| Cryogenian | 850–635 | 215 | ||
| Tonian | 1,000–850 | 150 | ||
| Mesoproterozoic | Stenian | 1,200–1,000 | 200 | |
| Ectasian | 1,400–1,200 | 200 | ||
| Calymmian | 1,600–1,400 | 200 | ||
| Paleoproterozoic | Statherian | 1,800–1,600 | 200 | |
| Orosirian | 2,050–1,800 | 250 | ||
| Rhyacian | 2,300–2,050 | 250 | ||
| Siderian | 2,500–2,300 | 200 | ||
SHARK VERTEBRAE
Shark fossils of any body part other than teeth are very rare. Instead of bone, shark skeletons are made of cartilage, the same material that forms the structure of your nose and ears. Cartilage is typically soft and does not easily fossilize. However under the right conditions, areas of denser cartilage—such as the spine—can fossilize. These fossils are rare and a valuable addition to any fossil collection.
The discs formed the spinal column and soft connecting tissue extended through slits in the side. The slits are rarely visible in fossils. These vertebrae have been dated to at least 25 million years old.
Otudus was the dominant genus in the region for millions of years. It has only been identified by fossilized teeth and vertebrae.
Shark vertebral fossils have even been discovered in landlocked regions of North America, providing further evidence of an ancient seaway splitting the continent.
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