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Carcharocles auriculatus was the dominant species of shark during the Eocene (55-45 million years ago). It is known as one of the giant Great White Sharks. It was the great-grandfather of Megalodon. Carcharocles auriculatus evolved into Carcharocles augustedens, which evolved into Carcharocles chubutensis, and lastly into Carcharocles megalodon.
Carcharocles auriculatus was a massive shark which fed on whales. This has been verified by the fact that Carcharocles auriculatus teeth have been found imbeded in fossil whale bones.
Carcharocles auriculatus teeth are characterized by their bulbous roots, side cusplets, and serrated edges. These teeth can reach lengths of greater than five inches.
These teeth were recovered by divers feeling around in the murky waters of North Carolina rivers and beaches.
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Sub-phylum: Vertebrata, Class: Chondrichthyes, Sub-class: Elasmobranchii, Order: Lamniformes, Family: Otodontidae, Genus: Carcharocles, Species: auriculatus.
Carcharocles auriculatus
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