Mammoth Cave is the world’s largest known cave system with over 400 miles of cave. Kentucky is landlocked today. However, recently recovered fossils indicate that Kentucky might have been a waterway shoreline location 325 million years ago, before the shaping of the super-continent Pangea.
Fossils from the Troglocladodus trimblei and and Glikmanius careforum were found in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave. The genus name Troglocladodus trimblei means, ‘Cave Cladodus’ or ‘Cave Branching Tooth.’ St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve Formations of Mammoth Cave pathways were created through water’s interaction with limestone, about 10 million years ago, though the cave itself is over 320 million years old. Troglocladodus trimblei is estimated to have been from 10-12 feet long and resemble the modern oceanic whitetip shark.
Rendering of prehistoric sharks like the fossils found in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave.Photo byBENJI PAYNOSE
The Glikmanius careforum was found based on teeth and fossils found in the caverns of St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, and Haney Formations at Mammoth Cave. Glikmanius is expected to have had the same length of 10-12 feet long, and have a makeup similar to the modern oceanic whitetip shark.