Sand Tiger Shark(Extinct) Tooth ID#78

Common Name: Sand Tiger Shark(Extinct)

Scientific Name: Carcharias cuspidata

Epoch:Miocene, Pliocene

Fossil Type: Tooth

Fossil Size: 0.91 Inches 2.32 cm

Location Found: Florida

Info about Carcharias

    This genus has only one extant (living) member, the sand tiger shark (C. taurus). This shark genus is a part of one the longest surviving families of sharks: Charcariidae of which the modern sand tiger shark is also the last surviving member of. This species mainly feeds on fish, squid, and crustaceans. This shark genus is a part of one of the longest surviving lineages of sharks, Charcariidae, dating all the way back 97-112mya in the Lower epoch of the Cretaceous period with species such as C. Strialula. C. cuspidata dating back to the oligocene is thought to be the direct ancestor of the modern sand tiger. C. taurus has caused 36 unprovoked shark attack related injuries and 0 fatalities globally, accounting for 3.8% of all documented shark attacks.

References:

Family Carchariidae:. Carchariidae: Sandtiger Shark. (n.d.). http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/shark_profiles/carchariidae.htm

Species implicated in attacks. International Shark Attack File. (n.d.). https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/shark-attacks/factors/species-implicated/