Stratigraphic Record of the Late Cretaceous Lamniform Shark, Cretoxyrhina mantelli (Agassiz), in Kansas

Abstract

The Late Cretaceous lamniform shark, Cretoxyrhina mantelli (Agassiz), occurs in the Graneros Shale, Lincoln Limestone, Jetmore Chalk, Pfeifer Shale, Fairport Chalk, Fort Hays Limestone, and Smoky Hill Chalk in Kansas. The crown heights of anterior teeth of geologically older C. mantelli generally are smaller than those of geologically younger ones, but taxonomic division at the subspecific level cannot be made. Cretoxyrhina mantelli is thought to prefer offshore environments.