Well, I’ve got a lot of projects that are partly done or that I have to look forward to. I’ve got enough to keep me busy for a long time. I’ve got associate sets that are still in rocks, that I have to get out. I have a special pneumatic… Read More
And what are are some of the new things you’re doing with the museum and project?… Read More
And you continue this work today?… Read More
Yes, very much so. Read More
They said they wanted to do it. And I said, okay, if that thrills and delights you, that’s fine, I don’t care (chuckles). Read More
Do the people who named it ask your permission?… Read More
It’s called Carcharodon hubbelli. It’s a species shark that existed between the present day white shark and the myosin makos. So it’s the precursor of our modern day white shark. Read More
Deformities and shark teeth which are fairly common and the evolution of the big sharks. And so I try to make educational exhibits there for the kids. This is kind of a follow through for your work at the zoo where you felt education was important. Yeah, oh yeah. Of… Read More
What is the scientific name of the shark named after you?… Read More
I have a museum, yeah. We had a smaller one in Miami, but we moved up to Gainesville, 12 years ago. And we have one now, the exhibit hall is 32 feet long and it’s about 12 feet across. And then there’s a second room, that’s slightly smaller. And I… Read More
That show how that shark has evolved over 65 million years. And now there’s no doubt about what it is, or who it is and who’s it related to. So we have made an interesting discovery there, and it’s all because that one set of teeth that was found in… Read More
And you have put together a museum devoted to this?… Read More
And it’s smaller. And I could not find that tooth in this set. And I almost gave the set away, I was so frustrated with it. And finally he came to me well, that tooth isn’t there. It’s another tooth the same size. So it’s not really a white shark,… Read More
Well, first of all, you separate the upper from the lower, because the lower teeth in sharks. Most species of sharks and certainly megalodons, are narrower. The teeth are thicker through, and there’s more of an arch to the root. So when you have a whole group of teeth like… Read More
People ask me, well, how do you determine where the teeth go?… Read More
Yeah, they have. In fact, they actually named a species after me (chuckles). I guess that’s the crowning achievement for a paleontologist or somebody that’s studying paleontologist. They have something named after you. But yeah, they have. Because for example, the big tooth sharks, the megalodon shark. For years scientist… Read More
Well, in 1987, a friend of mine found some associated teeth up in the phosphate mines in Central Florida. And he called me and he eventually found 75 teeth. And then I went up there and helped him with 120 more. So we got 95 teeth to the same megalodon… Read More
Have they added to the scientific naming of different sharks?… Read More
Well, it helps them because the more specimens you get of shark teeth, the better your ability to dissect or decide let’s say what they are, and who they’re related to. Associates tell you a lot more because they tell you about the relationship of the teeth to each other… Read More
How has the collection helped the community that studies this?… Read More