Science: Early American

The Florence B., a scallop boat, was scalloping along off the New Jersey coast last week, in 105 feet of water, 50 miles southeast of Ambrose Lightship. Among the scallops the rake dredged up a curious object: a gigantic tooth that would have taken a Paul Bunyan dentist with forceps the size of crossed crowbars to extract. The tooth was 6.5 inches long and Weighed 3.7 pounds. The roots were rust-colored and scaly, but the hard crown was jet black, as if the owner had chewed betel nuts.

The scallopers took their catch to New York, where Dr. Edwin H. Colbert of...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!