A group of American scientists discovered a new species of shark called Palaeohypotodus. According to the researchers, the discovery was made almost by chance: a few years ago, paleontologist June Ebersole (June Ebersole) was examining the fossil collection at the Alabama Geological Survey when he came across a small box of shark teeth collected more than 100 years ago in Wilcox County.

The scientist’s attention was drawn to small needle growths located on both sides of the teeth. The analysis showed that the fossils did not belong to any of the most famous species of prehistoric predatory fish.

Interestingly, sharks palaeohypotodus He lived approximately 65 million years ago during the Paleocene, a period that began immediately after the death of the dinosaurs, when more than 75% of life on Earth disappeared. At that time, most of southern Alabama was under warm ocean waters where these predators lived.