fossil
Fossilized Shark Tooth (Scapanorhynchus)
Scapanorhynchus texanus
Hardness: ~5 (mohs), Color: Tan to orange-brown enamel with a cream root, Luster: Vitreous/polished enamel, Structure: Narrow elongated blade with a distinct 'V' shaped root.
Identified More fossil →
Explore Fossilized Shark Tooth (Scapanorhynchus) in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: ~5 (mohs), Color: Tan to orange-brown enamel with a cream root, Luster: Vitreous/polished enamel, Structure: Narrow elongated blade with a distinct 'V' shaped root.
Formation & geological history
Formed during the Late Cretaceous period (approx. 70-80 million years ago). These sharks inhabited shallow marine environments covering present-day Arkansas and Texas. Teeth fossilized through permineralization in marine sediments.
Uses & applications
Paleontological study, educational collections, and jewelry making. Highly valued by amateur fossil hunters in the Gulf Coastal Plain.
Geological facts
Scapanorhynchus was an extinct type of goblin shark. It was known for its long, needle-like teeth specifically adapted for catching soft-bodied prey like squid or small fish. Finding them in Arkansas is common due to the exposure of Cretaceous marine deposits like the Marlbrook Marl.
Field identification & locations
Commonly found in creek beds and washouts in Southwest Arkansas (consistent with coordinates). Identification is based on the long, slender crown and the absence of side cusps compared to other lamnoid sharks.
More like this
Other fossil specimens
Sedimentary Outcrop (Sandstone/Shale)
Sedimentary bedrock formation (variable composition)
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Fossiliferous Calcilutite / Biomicrite
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Biogenic Limestone with Brachiopod/Crinoid fragments
sedimentary
Fossilized Crinoid Stem in Limestone
Crinoidea (Class) in Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) matrix
fossil
Fossiliferous Limestone
Limestone with embedded fossil cross-section
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone with Crinoid stems
Limestone (CaCO3) containing Crinoidea fossils
sedimentary