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Researchers Find Shark Graveyard-in the Desert
Newser • • general
Key Points:
- Researchers discovered 16 fossilized shark teeth from seven species on Egypt's Abu-Tartur Plateau, dating back to the Late Cretaceous period (100-66 million years ago).
- The findings indicate that the area, now desert, was once submerged under a sea with a diverse marine ecosystem.
- Some shark species found were previously undocumented in Africa, including an ancient relative of modern goblin sharks.
- The discovery provides new insights into North Africa's prehistoric marine biodiversity and suggests the region's phosphate-rich rocks may contain more fossils.
- Scientists plan further excavations to uncover additional evidence of this ancient aquatic environment.
