First description of sharks’ teeth from the Ferruginous Sands Formation (Aptian, Early Cretaceous) of the Isle of Wight

Abstract

A small sample of selachian teeth is described from a glauconitic nodule from the Ladder Chine Member, Ferruginous Sands Formation, Lower Greensand Group, late Aptian, Early Cretaceous found near Walpen Chine on the Isle of Wight, UK. The selachian fauna contains the root of an unidentified lamniform shark, and some associated teeth of a synechodontiform shark, here identified as Synechodus tenuis. The difficulties associated with the definition of the three common Cretaceous species of Synechodus - S. dubrisiensis, S. nitidus and S. tenuis - are briefly reviewed. The described material represents the first records of fossil sharks from the late Aptian of the Isle of Wight.