You can download Fossil Sharks and Rays ebook here.
- Title: Fossil Sharks and Rays
- Author: Bruce J. Welton, Roger F. Farish
- Publisher: Library of Congress Catalog
- Pages: 223
Since the time this book was first conceived, over four years ago, we have been compiling and documenting copious volumes on the occurrence and distribution of Texas Cretaceous sharks and rays. A substantial part of this invaluable data base comes from the first hand knowledge of numerous Texas collectors and it is to these individuals we owe our sincere gratitude.
Over the course of writing this book, we photographed literally thousands of shark and ray teeth based on specimens in numerous private collections. Many teeth were personally carried to our residence for examination and photography while other collectors invited us, along with all of our equipment, into their homes to examine and photograph their shark and ray teeth. We also must thank the seemingly endless procession of enthusiastic collectors who at every opportunity have shown us teeth or provided valuable collecting locality and stratigraphic information. To the many people who provided encouragement, support and advice throughout the writing of this book, we are very grateful.
For over 140 years, amateur and professional paleontologists have been scouring the hills and stream valleys of Texas discovering the fossil evidence of this state’s fascinating prehistory. Among those objects that have stimulated some of the greatest curiosity are the beautifully formed, diverse and easily found teeth and other remains of long extinct sharks and rays.
These fishes are among the most adaptable and hardiest forms of life on this planet and have been here about 100 times longer than man. Among these are some of the most aggressive and ferocious predators of either ancient or modem oceans. Today, as in the past, sharks and rays are found worldwide from polarto equatorial seas; at shallow to abyssal water depths; and in salt, brackish and fresh waters.