A tooth of a superpredator shark from 331 million years ago found in Covadonga (Asturias)

Researchers from universities in Oviedo, Valencia, and UNED have discovered a 331-million-year-old fossilized shark tooth in Covadonga, Asturias. This finding expands the known geographical distribution of the extinct genus Carcharopsis and provides insights into marine ecosystem recovery after a major extinction event. The tooth, found in a limestone slab, was reconstructed using non-destructive micro-computed tomography, revealing its internal structure and features indicative of a hypercarnivorous diet. The specimen, measuring 43 millimeters, is the largest recorded for this genus and suggests the shark could have reached lengths of five to six meters. This discovery marks the first record of Carcharopsis in northern Gondwana, previously found mainly in southern Laurussia. The study highlights the importance of this predator in understanding marine food chain dynamics during the Mississippian subperiod of the Carboniferous.