Shark Bitten Whale Vertebra

This vertebra comes from a whale that lived during the Miocene, a period marked by dramatic shifts in marine life. The distinct bite marks on the bone provide a glimpse into the predatory behavior of the sharks that roamed these waters. These markings are the unmistakable sign of a shark's teeth, likely from one of the carcharhinids of the time. The shark’s serrated teeth would have torn into the whale's vertebra, possibly during a failed attack or as part of a scavenging event, trying to tear away flesh from an exposed body.

Aurora, North Carolina, was once home to a vibrant, diverse marine ecosystem, teeming with large whales and apex predators. Acquired from an old collection, this was recovered from one of the many field trips the phosphate mining company facilitated years ago for fossil enthusiasts to collect the spoil piles.