New shark fossil donated to Idaho Museum of Natural History

The Idaho Museum of Natural History on Idaho State University’s Pocatello campus recently received a new shark fossil from Monsanto.

A spiral of fossil shark teeth, Helicoprion, was exposed during mining operations at the Monsanto mine in Soda Springs. The fossil measures over 8 inches in diameter.
The Idaho Museum of Natural History is home to the largest collection of Helicoprion sharks in the world.
“Our studies on Helicoprion show it was the largest predator on earth at the time, nearly 270 million years ago,” said Museum Director Leif Tapanila. “Idaho is the best place on the planet to find these amazing fossils. We’re very grateful to our partners in the region for sharing their discoveries so we can make them available to the public for many years to come.”

You will get a chance to see this shark fossil in the fall when the museum’s Buzzsaw Sharks of Idaho exhibit opens in October.