Orodus sp.
Mississippian
Burlington Limestone
Henderson County, Illinois, USA
9mm Paleozoic shark tooth in 26mm block of matrix

Shark. Early Carboniferous

Orodus is an extinct shark genus based on an incomplete skeleton which indicates a large animal (relative to the size of its teeth) with an elongated body though not quite eel-like. It’s a name given to a number of chevron-shaped, laterally-extended, low-crowned teeth showing some with some variability. The general tooth form is known across the Carboniferous and perhaps the Early Permian.

This tooth was collected in the late 80’s to early 90’s at a temporary site near Biggsville, Henderson County, Illinois.