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All, I've come across a reference to a very large shark (6 m / 20 ft) discovered in Kansas by Charles H. Sternberg that went to the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich in the 1890s, and was wondering if anyone had any information about this specimen, or how I might contact someone in paleontology at the university? On page 113-114 of C. H. Sternberg's "Life of a Fossil Hunter," he describes the discovery of a 20 [foot?] shark [Cretoxyrhina] from the chalk [probably Gove Co., south of Park, KS, USA]. The specimen was nearly complete, with "over 250 teeth".... Quoting Sternberg, "This is the first time and, I believe, the only time that so complete a specimen of this ancient shark has been discovered. The column and other solid parts were composed of cartilaginous matter which usually decays so easily that is rarely petrified. I suppose my specimen was old at the time of its death, and bony matter had been deposited in the cartilage. It is not very likely that such a specimen will ever be duplicated. Dr. Eastman's [1895?] study of this skeleton enabled him to make synonyms of many species which had been named form teeth alone." Apparently, the publication he was referring to is: Eastman, C. R., 1895. Bietrage Kenntniss Gattung Oxyrhina mit besonderer Berucksichtigung von Oxyrhina mantelli Agassiz. Palaeontographica 41:149-192. According to Sternberg, "the most complete skeleton of the Cretaceous shark, _Oxyrhina mantelli_ Agassiz [Cretoxyrhina mantelli] ever discovered in any formation" was sold to the "Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich." Does anyone know if the specimen is still at Munich? Any information appreciated. Regards, Mike Everhart Adjunct Curator of Paleontology Sternberg Museum of Natural History Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS http://www.oceansofkansas.com see also: http://www.oceansofkansas.com/BigShark.html
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