February 23, 2024
Why two prehistoric sharks found in Ohio got new names
Until recently, Orthacanthus gracilis could have been considered the “John Smith” of prehistoric shark names, given how common it was.
Three different species of sharks from the late Paleozoic Era – about 310 million years ago – were mistakenly given that same name, causing lots of grief to paleontologists who studied and wrote about the sharks through the years and had trouble keeping them apart.