EPISODE · Jan 11, 2026 · 4 MIN
Helicoprion: The Spiral Saw of the Permian Seas
from Intellectually Curious · host Mike Breault
We unravel Helicoprion, the Permian cartilaginous fish whose jaw formed a circular saw. For a century scientists misidentified the spiral tooth-whorl. A pivotal Idaho 4 specimen with preserved jaw cartilage and 2013 CT scans finally revealed the saw tucked inside the lower jaw, a self-sharpening bite-feeder that sliced soft prey and crushed shells. We explore what it ate, how its jaw worked, its global pelagic lifestyle, and how modern imaging solved one of paleontology's oldest mysteries.Note: This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mistakes. Please double-check any critical information.Sponsored by Embersilk LLC
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Helicoprion: The Spiral Saw of the Permian Seas
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