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Ancient Ghost Shark's Teeth Reveal Evolutionary Mating Secrets

9/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Male ghost sharks, or chimaeras, have a unique forehead appendage called a tenaculum with sharp teeth.
This male-specific structure likely helps in mating by grasping females, similar to shark behavior.
Researchers from three universities published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A 315-million-year-old fossil revealed the tenaculum's connection to the upper jaw, resembling modern shark teeth.
Genetic tests confirmed tenaculum teeth express genes for true teeth, indicating evolutionary adaptability.

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Story summary

Male ghost sharks, or chimaeras, have a unique forehead appendage called a tenaculum with sharp teeth.
This male-specific structure likely helps in mating by grasping females, similar to shark behavior.
Researchers from three universities published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
A 315-million-year-old fossil revealed the tenaculum's connection to the upper jaw, resembling modern shark teeth.
Genetic tests confirmed tenaculum teeth express genes for true teeth, indicating evolutionary adaptability.