Fossil Isurus Escheri – ISE1
$250.00
1 13/16″- Rare Isurus subserraius (escheri) “Mill Datum” fossil shark tooth – North Sea, Netherlands Genuine Early Pliocene (∼5 Ma) terminal population of the ancient mako lineage with clear serrations. One of the very last Isurus escheri forms worldwide – the final evolutionary stage (or dead-end) before the modern shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus). Classic glossy North Sea preservation, 100 % natural, legally dredged. Extremely scarce European transitional mako tooth – highly sought after by serious collectors and paleontologists.
In stock
Extremely Rare Terminal Form – Isurus subserraius (escheri) “Mill Datum” – North Sea, Netherlands
Scientific name: Isurus subserraius (Agassiz, 1843) – late populations traditionally referred to as Isurus escheri
Age: Early Pliocene (Zanclean), ca. 5.0–4.5 million years old
Stratigraphy: “Mill Datum” – a famous fossil-rich shell and shark tooth layer dredged from the southern North Sea (Dutch sector), correlated with the basal Kattendijk Formation / Luchtbal Member equivalents
Origin: Legally dredged offshore Netherlands (North Sea)
This tooth represents one of the very last known occurrences of Isurus escheri worldwide — the famous “Mill Datum” population from the Netherlands. These teeth come from the final surviving relict population of the broad-toothed mako lineage in the Northeast Atlantic just before its extinction (or, as some researchers argue, immediately before it gave rise to the modern shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus).
Why these are scientifically outstanding:
Clearly visible serrations along the cutting edges — much more developed than classic Miocene I. escheri / hastalis, yet still coarser and less uniform than modern I. oxyrinchus
This serration pattern is the strongest evidence of the transitional morphology that makes the “Mill Datum” teeth so coveted among researchers studying the origin of the modern mako
Many experts now interpret these Dutch latest-Pliocene teeth as either the direct ancestor of today’s shortfin mako or a terminal side branch that died out without descendants — in either case, the evolutionary endgame of the entire Isurus escheri lineage
Specimen details:
Sharp, well-preserved crown with distinct fine-to-moderate serrations (perfect illustration of the transitional stage)
Typical North Sea coloration: glossy gray, and brown
Intact root, sharp tip, and present cusplets
Size: 46 mm / 1 13/16″ inches on the slant
100 % authentic and unrestored
An exceptionally rare and important European fossil — far scarcer than any American Isurus escheri and coming from the very last moment this lineage existed on Earth. A true “end of an era” tooth for the advanced shark tooth or evolutionary collector.
Additional information
| Weight | 1 oz |
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