Rare Notorynchus cepedianus Shark Tooth Fossil Miocene Belgium Seven Gill Shark Lower Tooth Oorderen Sands Stabroek Specimen with COA

Description

Notorynchus cepedianus Fossil Shark Tooth – Oorderen Sands, Belgium

Presented here is a genuine lower tooth of the seven-gill shark Notorynchus cepedianus, recovered from the Oorderen Sands deposits at Churchill Docks near Stabroek, Hoevenen, Belgium. This fossil originates from Miocene marine sediments, approximately 23–5 million years old, representing a fascinating relic of prehistoric marine ecosystems that once covered large parts of northern Europe.

Notorynchus cepedianus is an unusual and distinctive shark species known today as the broadnose sevengill shark, a primitive shark lineage that has existed for tens of millions of years with relatively little evolutionary change. Fossil teeth from this species are particularly distinctive and highly collectible due to their unusual shape and evolutionary significance.

This specimen has been carefully selected as a display-quality fossil, and the listing photographs clearly show the exact fossil you will receive. The tooth includes a Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card, confirming the fossil is genuine.

Full sizing and scale can be seen in the listing photographs.

Notorynchus cepedianus – The Broadnose Sevengill Shark

The species Notorynchus cepedianus belongs to one of the most ancient living shark lineages. Unlike most modern sharks, which possess five gill slits, members of this group have seven gill slits, a primitive trait retained from early shark ancestors.

Taxonomic classification includes:

• Class: Chondrichthyes

• Order: Hexanchiformes

• Family: Hexanchidae

• Genus: Notorynchus

• Species: Notorynchus cepedianus

The order Hexanchiformes is considered one of the most primitive groups of modern sharks. Fossils show that this lineage has existed since at least the Jurassic Period, demonstrating an extraordinary evolutionary longevity.

Modern specimens of Notorynchus cepedianus can grow to lengths of 3 metres (10 feet) and are powerful predators found in coastal and deep marine environments.

Lower Tooth Morphology and Identification

The lower teeth of Notorynchus cepedianus are extremely distinctive and easily recognisable. Unlike the triangular serrated teeth of many sharks, sevengill sharks possess broad comb-like lower teeth with multiple cusps.

Key features of these teeth include:

• A long primary cusp forming the leading blade

• Multiple smaller cusplets extending along the cutting edge

• Broad root structure supporting the tooth

• Flattened cutting surface designed for slicing prey

This multi-cusped arrangement forms a saw-like cutting edge that was highly effective for cutting through flesh.

These specialised teeth allowed Notorynchus to feed on a wide variety of prey, including fish, marine mammals, rays, and other sharks.

Because sharks continually shed and replace their teeth throughout life, fossil teeth are the most commonly preserved remains of prehistoric sharks.

Oorderen Sands Formation – Miocene Marine Deposits

This fossil originates from the Oorderen Sands, a well-known marine sedimentary unit exposed in the Antwerp region of Belgium, particularly around the port areas near Stabroek and Hoevenen.

These sediments date to the Miocene Epoch, approximately 23–5 million years ago, when much of northern Europe was covered by shallow seas connected to the North Atlantic Ocean.

The Oorderen Sands consist primarily of:

• Marine sands

• Silts and shell-rich sediments

• Phosphate-bearing fossil layers

These deposits are highly fossiliferous and have produced a wide variety of marine fossils including:

• Shark and ray teeth

• Marine mammal remains

• Fish fossils

• Molluscs and marine invertebrates

The fossil assemblage provides valuable insight into Miocene marine ecosystems in the North Sea Basin.

Miocene Marine Ecosystems of Northern Europe

During the Miocene Epoch, warm shallow seas extended across much of northern Europe. These environments supported rich marine ecosystems containing sharks, rays, fish, whales, dolphins, and numerous invertebrate species.

Predatory sharks such as Notorynchus cepedianus were among the dominant marine hunters within these ecosystems. Their powerful jaws and distinctive teeth allowed them to prey upon a wide range of marine animals.

Fossils recovered from Miocene deposits like the Oorderen Sands provide important evidence for understanding the evolution and distribution of marine life during this period.

Fossilisation and Preservation

Shark teeth fossilise particularly well because they are composed of dense enamel and dentine, materials that resist decay and preserve readily within sediment.

When sharks shed their teeth during feeding or natural replacement cycles, the teeth settled onto the seabed and became buried within marine sediments. Over millions of years, mineralisation preserved the teeth within the rock layers.

Many teeth from the Oorderen Sands show excellent preservation of cusps, cutting edges, and root structure, making them highly desirable specimens for fossil collectors.

Authenticity and Collector Information

• Genuine fossil specimen – not a cast or replica

• Fossil Type: Notorynchus cepedianus Lower Shark Tooth

• Order: Hexanchiformes

• Family: Hexanchidae

• Geological Formation: Oorderen Sands

• Age: Miocene Epoch (~23–5 million years old)

• Locality: Churchill Docks, Stabroek, Hoevenen, Belgium

• Includes Certificate of Authenticity lifetime guarantee generic card

• The exact fossil shown in the photographs is the specimen you will receive

This genuine Notorynchus cepedianus lower tooth fossil from the Miocene Oorderen Sands of Belgium represents an exceptional addition to any prehistoric shark collection, Miocene fossil display, or natural history cabinet, preserving a remarkable example of one of the ocean’s most ancient shark lineages.