LAMNIFORM AND CARCHARHINIFORM SHARKS OF THE WECHES FORMATION, NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TEXAS

A paleontological study was conducted to determine which shark genera are present in the middle Eocene of the Weches Formation in Nacogdoches County, Texas. Study material consists of fourteen previously collected shark teeth and ten recently collected teeth recovered from outcrops along Maroney Drive and the southernmost portion of Lake Nacogdoches. Morphological features of importance included serrations, cusplets, striations on the lingual side of the crown, cutting edges, and relative proportions of the root and crown. Teeth were identified to the genus level based on comparisions with previously described and illustrated Eocene selachian faunas. As a result, five genera of lamniform and carcharhiniform sharks were recognized, including Striatolamia, Carcharias, Brachycarcharias, Carcharhinus, and Galeorhinus. A diverse middle Eocene shark fauna appears to be represented by these teeth, given the relatively high number of genera represented within the relatively small sample size.