In a historic breakthrough from Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park, paleontologists have made a discovery of two new species of sharks, giving insight into the prehistoric sea life of the world. The two new species, Troglocladodus trimblei and Glikmanius careforum, were found in an inventory of Paleontological Resources within the park, highlighting an era when the area was an ocean habitat thousands of years ago.
The find is not only testament to the rich history that is hidden behind the cave’s limestone walls but also the largely untapped potential of the park’s fossils. The Mammoth Cave, with its now vast cavern system, was once buried beneath an ancient seaway linking the eastern North American, European, and northern African continents more than 325 million years ago.
Troglocladodus trimblei, named for park Superintendent Barclay Trimble, was introduced by way of an early PRI excursion in 2019 when Trimble himself discovered the initial specimen. The species, meaning “Cave Branching Tooth,” was determined by adult and juvenile teeth and is estimated to have been around 10-12 feet long. The existence of such a beast in what is currently a landlocked park highlights the story of evolution that can be gleaned from fossils.
Glikmanius careforum, another new species of the genus Glikmanius, is also thought to have been a powerful predator of the era, as big as its ancestors. The species was given its name in respect to the Cave Research Foundation for their contribution to the research work undertaken at Mammoth Cave. Uniquely, the discovery of a partial set of jaws and gills of a young Glikmanius marks the first of its kind for this genus of ctenacanthus shark, providing invaluable insight into its anatomy and predatory habits.
Their presence in the fossil record means they used to prey on the near-shore environment that blanketed Kentucky and Alabama, feeding on small sharks, bony fish, and squid-like orthocones. Their pointed cutting teeth and their estimated speed imply they were perfectly suited to their environment, lorded over the marine ecosystem during their time.
As the Paleontological Resources Inventory started in 2019, more than 70 species of fossil fish have been discovered, highlighting Mammoth Cave as an important paleontological site. With the help of experts such as J.P. Hodnett, these finds keep surfacing, each adding to the elaborate tale of our world’s biological history.
Rick Toomey, a Mammoth Cave guide and paleontologist, was thrilled about the discovery, saying, “Before four or five years ago, we had absolutely no idea that we had all of these exciting sharks, so many that are new to science and that Mammoth Cave would be one of the most important shark localities from about 340 million years ago.”
The buzz around these discoveries is tangible and, understandably so. With every new find, another layer of Earth’s natural past is unwrapped, providing a glimpse into a bygone time. Although the sites where these ancient sharks were discovered are off-limits to research teams, it’s obvious that Mammoth Cave has secrets yet to be discovered and revealed by the diligent and inquisitive eye of science.
