Fossil Shark Tooth, Porpoise Humerus & Whale Vertebra - California

This fascinating specimen is an association of a Carcharodon (Isurus) shark tooth, an unidentified porpoise humerus, and the vertebra of an unidentified baleen whale. The specimen was collected from the Middle Miocene, Temblor Formation in Kern County, California; an area notable for its abundance of C. planus teeth and the occasional Megalodon tooth. The tooth, humerus, and the vertebra are in excellent condition, with minimal restoration. Though it is highly compressed, the vertebra is still in great condition. This is a collector worthy piece to be excited about.

The exact classification of these teeth has been hotly debated for several decades. Historically, these teeth have been classified as a mako shark (Isurus planus or Cosmopolitodus planus) but more recent research has suggested they fall into the white shark lineage (Carcharodon planus), You can read more about this here.