JURASSIC JAWS

Reading the paleontology feature in the May issue of Scottish Field [Them Bones, Them Bones] reminded me of the excitement that the discovery of the 'Bearsden Shark' created when it was found in the early 80s. The shark was excavated from the Manse Burn by Stan Wood, a fossil collector and as far as I'm aware it can still be seen in The Hunterian in Glasgow.

As a boy, I remember being gobsmacked that there had ever been sharks living in Bearsden, even if it was three hundred and thirty million years ago. I was fascinated that the shark's dorsal fin was shaped like an anvil with spikes on top and admit to also being somewhat disappointed when I realised that the beast was only around one metre long. This little shark was revealed as a new species of fish in 2001 and was named akmonistion zangerli.

Derek Bain, Glasgow

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