Scientists report trove of shark fossils in Mammoth Cave

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. – Paleontologists working at Mammoth Cave National Park say they have discovered shark fossils that include part of a shark head and dorsal fins. The Courier-Journal reports fossils of shark teeth are common, but fossilized skeletons are uncommon because cartilage does not typically survive. Paleontologist John-Paul Hodnett visited the cave in November and says “my mind was blown.” The find includes a lower jaw, skull cartilage and several teeth from a shark that lived around 330 million years ago. There are also teeth and dorsal fins from other species. Hodnett says their exploration of the fossils has “just scratched the surface.”