New species of ancient shark identified at Mammoth Cave, name honors park guide

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. – A brand new species of shark discovered at Mammoth Cave National Park is honoring a member of the park’s team.

According to a release by the park, the petalodont (petal-toothed) shark was found when teeth were visible during ongoing fossil research by Mammoth Cave and the National Park Service Paleontology Program.

The new species is known as Strigilodus tollesonae, according to Mammoth Cave.

Park officials say Strigilodus tollesonae was a type of extinct shark more closely related to modern ratfish than to other modern sharks and rays.

According to the park, the name translates to “Tolleson’s Scraper Tooth,” and the species is named after Mammoth Cave National Park guide Kelli Tolleson, who provided “outstanding field support for the paleontological resources inventory.”

Tolleson discovered many important fossil localities through her work and led expeditions to the fossil sites that were not easily accessible, officials say. The fossils are commonly located in the cave ceilings or walls which researchers and volunteers carefully collect using small handheld tools.

The park shared the news on National Fossil Day on Oct. 11.

However, the park says it will celebrate the new discovery and other types of fossils found within the cave system on Monday, Oct. 23.