Helicoprion
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Helicoprion has a reputation for being the "buzzsaw shark" (although it technically isn't a shark; it's more closely related to ratfish). Pretty much all Helicoprion fossils are of "whorls", or spirals of teeth. H. ferreri is a relatively small species; others can reach an excess of 12 meters! For years, scientists have debated how the teeth fit into the mouth. Hypotheses ranging from a toothy "trunk" on the upper snout to a buzzsaw projecting out of the end of the lower jaw. The current hypothesis is it was embedded in the lower jaw, as shown. Helicoprion can be found in the Permian section of the Aquarium. |
Scientific name Location Time Length Diet |