Scientists Identify Brand New Prehistoric Shark Species

Researchers have discovered a previously unknown prehistoric shark species that they have named Megalolamna paradoxodon, based on fossilized teeth found in different places on the planet.

According to a study, published Monday in the Historical Biology journal, the ancient monster's fossilized teeth, up to 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) long, were found along the coasts of two US states (California and North Carolina), as well as in Japan and Peru.

The choppers are unique as their features resemble both the teeth found in Otodontidae sharks, which include the iconic superpredator megalodon sharks, and those of lamniform sharks, and this is where the new genus Megalolamna is taken from.

As for the new species name "paradoxodon," it refers to the predator "paradoxically" emerging in the geologic record after appearing to have split from Otodus some 45 million years earlier.

Kenshu Shimada, the lead author of the study and a paleobiologist at DePaul University in Chicago, noted in a news release that he is shocked that "such a large lamniform shark with such a global distribution" is only now being recognized. The finding is indicative of the limitations of our knowledge about ancient marine ecosystems, he believes.

According to the international research team, the ancient relative of today's great white shark lived in shallow coastal waters some 20 million years ago, during the Miocene era.

Based on the remains, the newly-discovered ancient ocean dwellers averaged about 13 feet (4 meters) in length, similar to the modern Great Whites, but some may have reached as large as 24 feet (7.3 meters). They had "grasping" teeth in the front and "slicing" teeth in the back, likely used to feast on medium-sized fish, and each other.