JAN JUC’S GIANT JAWS
Prehistoric mega-shark twice the size of a great white snacked on whales
RARE evidence of a prehistoric mega-shark — a predator, which at more than 9m in length was almost twice the size of modern great whites — has been found at a Jan Juc beach.
Local teacher Philip Mullaly uncovered a set of 7cm teeth from the massive great jagged narrowtoothed shark, the first fossil evidence of its kind found in Australia and one of only three in the world.
“I was immediately excited, it was just perfect and I knew it was an important find that needed to be shared with people,” Mr Mullaly said.
RARE evidence of a prehistoric mega-shark — a predator, which at more than 9m in length was almost twice the size of modern great whites — has been found at a Jan Juc beach.
Teacher and citizen scientist Philip Mullaly uncovered a set of 7cm teeth from the great jagged narrow-toothed shark, the first fossil evidence of its kind found in Australia and one of only three in the world.
Also known as Carcharocles angustidens, the shark roamed the sea 25 million years ago in the late Oligocene epoch as an apex predator and preyed on small whales.
The teeth were discovered in a boulder that also contained those of several six-gill shark species, which Museums Victoria palaeontologists believe is evidence they feasted on the giant after its death.
“I was walking along the beach looking for fossils, turned and saw this shining glint in a boulder and saw a quarter of the tooth exposed,” Mr Mullaly said.
“I was immediately excited, it was just perfect and I knew it was an important find that needed to be shared with people.”
The Surf Coast is a renowned hot spot for fossils.
Museums Victoria senior palaeontologist Erich Fitzgerald said the expedition to extract the more than 40 teeth from the site, last December and January, had produced material of international significance.
“They represent one of three associated groupings of Carcharocles angustidens teeth in the world, and the very first set to ever be discovered in Australia,” Dr Fitzgerald said.
“By donating his discovery to Museums Victoria, Phil has ensured that these unique fossils are available for scientific research and education both now and for generations to come. This is absolutely essential for documenting and preserving Australia’s prehistoric history.”
The Mega Shark Fossil Find display, featuring 45 fossil shark teeth and a stateof-the-art life-size 8m-long digital animation, goes on display at Melbourne Museum from today as part of National Science Week.