Największy rekin ery dinozaurów i rozwikłanie jego zagadki / dr Daniel Tyborowski

Lecture by Dr. Daniel Tyborowski as part of the Paleontological Evenings series at the Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw [February 25, 2026] https://wszechnica.org.pl/wyklad/najw... What did the largest shark that lived during the age of dinosaurs look like? Was it a slow-moving seabed dweller, crushing clam shells, or a skilled hunter, traversing the open seas? For almost 200 years, Ptychodus remained one of the greatest enigmas of paleontology. This shark lived during the Cretaceous Period and could have reached approximately 9-10 meters in length, with some estimates suggesting as much as 11 meters. However, it didn't resemble the typical shark seen in movies. Instead of sharp, triangular teeth, it had wide, flattened teeth that formed a powerful crushing apparatus. This dentition indicated that Ptychodus was a durophagous shark, meaning it fed on organisms protected by hard shells or armor. For many years, it was reconstructed as a huge, slow-moving bottom-dwelling shark, similar to modern horn sharks. Dr. Daniel Tyborowski's lecture demonstrates how, based on teeth, jaws, fossilized feces, and finally, almost complete skeletons, scientists gradually reconstructed the appearance, diet, and lifestyle of this extraordinary animal. In the lecture, we will learn, among other things: – why shark teeth are most often preserved in the fossil record, – how the dentition of Ptychodus differed from that of typical predatory sharks, – what durophagy is, – what animals it may have eaten, – what can be learned about the diet of extinct animals from coprolites, – what remains of this shark have been discovered in Poland, – how finds from Mexico have changed its reconstruction. Ptychodus teeth have been discovered in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, among other places. The Odra Quarry in Opole yielded jaw fragments and coprolites, or fossilized feces. Analysis of their contents revealed the presence of brachiopod shell fragments and microscopic foraminifera, supporting the hypothesis that the shark consumed organisms living near the seabed. The real paleontological twist, however, came in 2024, when exceptionally well-preserved Ptychodus skeletons discovered in Mexico were described. Not only were skulls and vertebrae preserved, but also body outlines and fin structures. These discoveries showed that Ptychodus did not have the silhouette of a slow-moving benthic shark. Its sharp pectoral fins, large dorsal fin, and well-developed caudal fin indicate it was an active and efficient swimmer adapted to life in the water column. Relationship analyses also revealed that it belonged to the lamniformes, a group that includes, among others, the modern great white shark. It thus combined the body of a swift ocean hunter with dentition that acted like a powerful vise. Its prey could have included not only benthic animals but also ammonites and large sea turtles. The history of Ptychodus research demonstrates how a single exceptional discovery can completely change the scientific picture of an extinct animal. The lecture was delivered on February 25, 2026, as part of the "Paleontological Evenings at the Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw" series. Dr. Daniel Tyborowski is a paleobiologist, geologist, evolutionist, academic teacher, and science popularizer. His research focuses on the evolution, paleoecology, functional morphology, and histology of secondary aquatic vertebrates, particularly marine reptiles and cetaceans. Since 2024, he has been a researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw. #DanielTyborowski #Ptychodus #Sharks #PrehistoricSharks #Paleontology #DinosaursAge #Cretaceous #Fossils #Evolution #Geology #EarthHistory #Ammonites #Science #UniversityofWarsaw #FacultyofGeologyUW #Wszechnica