A rare and fascinating discovery of a 320 million-year-old shark tooth fossil is greatly increasing our understanding of the ancient predators of Ireland’s seas.
Shark tooth discovered in Clare Only 1/3 billion years old!
The fossil was discovered by Irish geologist Dr. Eamon Doyle, of the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, on the Irish coast at Doolin Co. Clare.
The tooth belonged to a shark that once prowled the waters off Ireland during the Carboniferous period, a time when the country was closer to the equator.
Dr Doyle said “Fossil sharks teeth of this age are very rare in Ireland and so it extends the known range of fossil sharks in Ireland. Equally significant is the information it gives us about the biodiversity of these ancient seas.”
The public will get a chance to view this fascinating fossil when it is put on display on the 25th May at an event in Ennistymon Public Library. This event is part of the annual Burren Rocks Festival, a weekend packed with fun and educational events combining outdoor activity and adventure with geology and the landscape.
