Unknown jaw found on beach

[61cygni]

Hello,
I found this jaw on a Brittany beach. I wonder what it can be. Any idea which species it can be?
Thanks for any tip.
Bruno



Scale: 1 euro cent coin.

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by 61cygni

Hello,
I found this jaw on a Brittany beach. I wonder what it can be. Any idea which species it can be?
Thanks for any tip.
Bruno



Scale: 1 euro cent coin.

Shark of some description, but not sure what species from that. Might be interesting to take it into a museum or uni somewehre and see if they can pin it down.

[61cygni]

Thanks for the suggestion. I bet only a specialist would be able to recognise the exact species from a set of teeth... Bye the way, have you noticed how the teeth roots are different from human ones? They look like fibers... Amazing! I've been told that sharks teeth can grow several times, unlike human ones. Do you know if it is true?

[svenrufus]

Originally Posted by 61cygni

Thanks for the suggestion. I bet only a specialist would be able to recognise the exact species from a set of teeth... Bye the way, have you noticed how the teeth roots are different from human ones? They look like fibers... Amazing! I've been told that sharks teeth can grow several times, unlike human ones. Do you know if it is true?

Yes it is true. The violence that sharks attack prey with (even the tiddlers) means that they lose lots of teeth over their life. The teeth are not so strongly attached as ours which is why they come out easier. They are constantly growing out from the inside edge of the jaw, you can see the different layers quite well in your close up picture. The ones from the inside push the older ones out to the edge and eventually as they are lost take their place. I have heard that they need to replace teeth to make sure that they stay sharp enough for the job.

I'd definitely give it a go tying to figure out what species it is. These days a lot of exotic species turn up on our coast as climate change brings things further north, so it could be useful data if that is true in this case.

[61cygni]

Do you think it could be a tiddler of a bigger species rather than an adult specimen?

I'll enquire about the exact date of discovery (I am not the one who picked it up) so that in case you find it to be of an exotic species, we will be able to report all information about it.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

My guess would be on a Blue Shark but it's difficult to say

[61cygni]

Based on geographical range?
Which other sharks can be found in the English Channel?

[AlphaZeroOne]

Originally Posted by 61cygni

Based on geographical range?
Which other sharks can be found in the English Channel?

Brilleant find. To attempt to answer your question about species, the following is a list of shark species often found around the British Isles:

Somnulosus microcephalus
Etmopterus spinax
Dalatias licha
Echinorhinus brucus
Hexanchus griseus
Heptranehias perlo
Chlamydoselachus anguineus
Squalus acanthias
Sphyrna zygaena
Prionace glauca
Mustelus mustelus
Mustelus asterias
Galeorhinus galeus
Galeus melastomus
Scyliorhinus canicula
Scyliorhinus stellaris
Squatina squatina
Isurus oxyrinchus
Alopius vulpinus
Alopias superciliosus
Lamna nasus
Cetorhinus maximus
Echinorhinus brucus


Hope this is a good starting point for your identification.

[Marineboy]

Hi, just had a look at a few back pages and found these photos - backward facing needle sharp teeth. Yes, tempting to hope it's a shark jaw, but what it lacks is the row upon row of ready formed teeth, one behind the other - a major give away that its not of the shark family. It does have extremely well formed, efficient looking teeth though.

This is the jaw bone of the Angler Fish, Lophius piscatorius.
Backward pointing and needle sharp teeth to prevent fish prey from escaping. Its common name, Angler Fish, comes from the use of a flexible spine on its midridge, just behind the huge mouth full of teeth. This spine is equiped with a lure to attract prey fish and is waved around like a fishing rod above the mouth. Unsuspecting prey approach to take a closer look and end up between two sets of teeth as in the pics. With really big mouths, these fish grow to a length of up to 2 metres long and even then are essentially a mouth with a tail! Increasingly more important as a food fish, the head is normally removed before going onto the fish mongers slab as it's not the prettiest of fish and would put many people off buying it. It does have another name that you may have had on your shopping list though - Its also known as Monk Fish. When cooked it is a good substitute for scampi. Well, almost! One other little bit of interest on this fish - I remember reading about one that had been caught - it had a seabird in its stomach! I guess a waved lure is good for more than just fish.

The winter is coming up now. I am hoping for some really serious winter storms down here in the southwest. Not only for what might still come ashore from the Napoli at Branscombe, but also what sealife might get washed ashore. I feel a weekend or two of serious beachcombing coming up.

[JP]

Its my ex-wifes!! oh hold on shes still alive cracking find buddy a real jem!!