Dorsal spine from a shark-like fish - 113mm long Tribodus sp. (scientific name) Kem Kem Group, Morocco 100 - 95 million years old

You might be familiar with the dorsal spines on Snapper, Kahawai and other various fish.... this is the Cretaceous period version of that! Tribodus is an extinct genus of Hybodont. Hybodonts are an order of cartilaginous fish that existed 360 - 66 million years ago. It shares a close common ancestor with sharks. Check the pics, this fish had 2 spines.... a very nasty surprise for anything that wanted to eat this fish! This specimen is 113mm / 4.4" long, it does have a repair about 1/4 the way down. It has striations that are very well preserved!

Something to note - while doing a bit of homework on this specimen, people were calling it Hybodus. Hybodus is a wastebasket taxon which is vague and ambiguous. Tribodus is a genus that is found in the Kem Kem, which fit's this specimen far more accurately than Hybodus.

Collection is welcome from the Hibiscus Coast Tracked courier NZ wide to any urban address - $7 (RD will be extra)