1.9 cm Physogaleus contortus - Tooth - Hai

1.9 cm Physogaleus contortus - Tooth - Hai

The 1.9 cm tooth of Physogaleus contortus is in very good condition and the sharp, fine serrations are wonderfully preserved. Physogaleus contortus is an extinct species of shark from the family of requiem sharks that lived from the late Paleocene to the Miocene. The teeth are rather narrow and the crown may be twisted towards the tip, which is considered a typical feature of this species. Based on this tooth structure, it is assumed that Physogaleus contortus fed mainly on bony fish, similar to today's sand tiger sharks. The teeth show that Physogaleus contortus was adapted to a predatory lifestyle in the open sea.