Polyrhyzodus cancavus

A fantastic selection of very rare Russian Paleozoic shark teeth from Carboniferous and Permian age shark teeth (~300 MM years ago). These teeth are part an incredible collection put to together 20 years ago. Russian Paleozoic material was available in the US from 2000 – 2005 and then it stopped. The collection that I am now offering was purchased as a group in 2002 time frame and contains many ultra rare teeth species and exquisite quality specimens. Many species that I have not seen before.

Few collectors are familiar with Paleozoic shark teeth since they are quite rare. About 450 million years ago, we have the earliest fossil evidence for sharks or their ancestors (cartilaginous fish) which possessed a few scales, but no teeth during the Late Ordovician Period. The first sharks with teeth were present in the early Devonian. During Paleozoic (Carboniferous Period) which began 359 million years ago, the “golden age” of sharks begins with a large number of shark species ruling the seas and inland waters. Very strange looking shark species evolved such as, the Edestus and Helicoprion with their spiral protruding saw-like jaws. Unfortunately, the mass extinction event at the end of the Paleozoic (Permian), wiped out 96% of all marine life. The quantity of Paleozoic shark teeth available is very small compared to the amount teeth from the Eocene through Pliocene which the collector community is more familiar with.

Our best selection of rare Russian Paleozoic shark teeth ever!