In News: Seven years after the discovery of its “dragon-like jawline” in Mexican territory, an ancient, distinct shark species was given a formal name.
About Godzilla Shark
- Seven years after the discovery of its “dragon-like jawline”, an ancient, distinct shark species was given a formal name.
- A bulletin that was published in the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science identified the marine species as Dracopristis hoffmanorum, or Hoffman’s Dragon Shark, in honour of the New Mexico family that owns the land in Albuquerque where the fossil of its teeth was first found in 2013.
- The name was given to the ancient species by John Paul-Hodnett who teamed up with a slew of other researchers for the process.
The Fossil
- Over seven years ago, Hodnett unearthed the remains of the 300 million-year-old shark’s teeth.
- Describing the fossil, that the chompers were squatter and shorter, which made him believe that it belonged to a previously undiscovered species.
- Analyzing the structure of the teeth further, asserted that it was “great for grasping and crushing” prey rather than “piercing” it.
- Reckoned that it was the ancient teeth, which marked the first sign that it might belong to a distinct species.
- Name also harkens to the dragon-like jawline and 2.5-foot (0.75-meter) fin spines that inspired the discovery’s initial nickname, “Godzilla Shark.”
- Following the unearthing of 12 rows of teeth on the shark’s lower jaw, the researchers made subsq=equant discoveries, leading to the completion of the skeleton last week.
- Hodnett and his colleagues believe that Hoffman’s dragon shark most likely lived in the shallows along the coast, stalking prey like crustaceans, fish and other sharks.
Source: The Hindu
