Dave the Shark

This specimen is the only near complete fossil shark skeleton in Canada, and the only filter-feeder near-complete fossil shark skeleton from the Western Interior Seaway. With a length of 12 feet, it is one of the biggest near-complete fossil shark skeletons in the world. In 1975, this skeleton was found during bentonite mining operations at a farm near Thornhill, just a few miles west of Morden. This farm, owned and operated by Dave Lumgair, was one of the most important fossil dig sites for the CFDC, producing some of the most spectacular discoveries on display, including Bruce, the world's longest publicly exhibited mosasaur. As Dave was instrumental with important discoveries by the early Morden and District Museum (later the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre) during the 1970s, this shark is informally named in honour of his many contributions. Although the most common shark findings are teeth, a few vertebrae or other elements of the skeleton are occasionally found. This is because the cartilaginous composition of shark skeletons makes the fossilization process difficult; therefore, the discovery of shark skeletal remains (other than teeth) is very rare. This specimen is especially uncommon, as not only was a near-complete skeleton found, including gills and fins, but surprisingly no teeth were associated with the find (even following x-ray examination). The special shape of the jaws, and the absence of any teeth, lead us to the preliminary conclusion that you are viewing the first filter-feeding shark ever found in Western Interior Seaway sediments.