The Late Cretaceous anacoracid shark, Pseudocorax laevis (Leriche), from the Niobrara Chalk of western Kansas

Abstract

Abstract Eight isolated teeth of the Late Cretaceous anacoracid shark, Pseudocorax laevis (Leriche), from the Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Chalk in western Kansas are formally identified and described. These teeth were recovered from the bottom half of the Smoky Hill Chalk, which chronostratigraphically ranges from the Late Coniacian (ca. 87 Ma) to the late Early Santonian (ca. 85 Ma). Pseudocorax laevis was likely a small shark, measuring only about 1 m in total length. Like other anacoracids, P. laevis possibly practiced scavenging.