A new type of shark species has been discovered inside a cave at the Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, thanks to the discovery of several shark teeth spotted inside the park's cave walls.
The new species is identified as "Strigilodus tollesonae," which translates to “Tolleson’s Scraper Tooth.” The spoon-like teeth were found during a paleontological resources inventory, which has been coordinated by Mammoth Cave and the National Park Service paleontology program since November 2019.
“We are excited to finally announce the discovery of our first new shark species at Mammoth Cave on NFD,” Superintendent Barclay Trimble said. “Teams of geologists, paleontologists, park staff, and volunteers have been hard at work deep inside the cave identifying and collecting fossils since the paleontological resources inventory began in 2019. Their important research allows us to better understand the scope, significance, distribution, and management issues associated with the fossil record found within Mammoth Cave.”
The park described "Strigilodus tollesonae" as an extinct shark more closely related to modern ratfish compared to modern sharks and rays. Each tooth found in the caves had a single rounded curved cusp, which was used for clipping and grasping hard shell prey; it is believed that this type of shark fed on snails, bivalves, and soft bodied worms, along with smaller fish.
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The newly discovered shark species got its name from Mammoth Cave National Park guide Kelli Tolleson, whom the park has praised for giving incredible field support for the paleontological resources inventory. The park also praised Tolleson for discovering many important fossil localities, as well as leading expeditions to various fossil sites with limited accessibility.
Through the park's paleontological resources inventory, there have been at least 70 species of ancient fish identified at Mammoth Cave, where over 25 caves and cave passages have been surveyed.