Paleontologists at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky discovered a new species of fossilized shark from over 335 million years ago.

Officials at the park said Thursday that the new species, named Macadens olsoni, likely grew to less than a foot long and used its curved teeth to eat mollusks, worms and other small sea creatures. 

The fossils of Macadens olsoni came from the park’s Ste. Genevieve formation, which dates back 335 to 340 million years during the Mississippian geological period. At the time, Mammoth Cave National Park was a shallow sea.

The shark’s name honors former park scientist Rickard Olson, who worked on documenting shark fossils.

“This discovery is a remarkable addition to our understanding of ancient marine life and underscores the importance of preserving and studying our natural history,” Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Barclay Trimble said.

Macadens olsoni is one of multiple new fossil shark species found at Mammoth Cave in recent years. In 2023, scientists researching past life through fossils identified Strigilodus tollesonae, which had scraping teeth and was named for a park guide, and in 2024 they found remnants of the larger ancient sharks Troglocladodus trimblei and Glikmanius careforum.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.