Thursday, May 7, 2009

Tooth of a great white shark lodged in a four-million year whale bone

Palaeontologists have discovered the fossilised tooth of a great white shark lodged in a four-million year whale bone

The whale - an undetermined species of baleen whale, or mysticete - did not survive the shark bite. This is evident from a lack of re-growth around the tooth.

What is less clear is whether the shark killed the whale, or if it was already dead.

"An attack that leads to death would leave the same mark as a scavenging event," Ehret says.

Contemporary great white sharks, however, are known to scavenge larger baleen whales, such as humpbacks, so he suspects the ancient shark was feasting on the carcass of the whale when it lost its tooth.

via Gallery - Fossil whale found with fossil shark tooth - Image 2 - New Scientist.

No comments: