Scapanorhynchus texanus (Roemer 1849)
One of the most common Cretaceous shark teeth you will find in Northeast Mississippi is that of the extinct goblin shark, Scapanorhynchus texanus. The shape of their teeth vary quite a bit by tooth position. The long, slender teeth are anterior (in the front of the jaws) and are designed for grasping. From anterior to lateral positions, the cusps and roots get broader, with a more slanted primary cusp and also develop more prominent single (or double) accessory cusps. These lateral teeth are designed for cutting, and the angled primary cusp directs teeth to the back of the mouth. Scapanorhynchus, meaning “spade snout,” had a long snout lined with electroreceptors, which it used to detect movement of its prey.
During the Cretaceous period, goblin sharks lived primarily in shallow marine waters. By the end of the Cretaceous, some believe that competition from sand tiger sharks drove them to deeper waters before they eventually became extinct. Today, their closest living relatives, Mitskurina owstoni, inhabit the very deep waters of the oceans.
CRETACEOUS MISSISSIPPI 