FOSSILS OF NEW JERSEY |
The Goblin Shark Age - Cretaceous Commonality - Abundant
Widespread in North America during the late Cretaceous the teeth
of Scapanorhynchus texanus are
commonly found teeth in New Jersey. There is a marked difference
in appearance between the anterior and lateral teeth, the anterior teeth
have a long slender crown marked with
strong to coarse
striations. (sometimes referred to as folds). The roots have a pronounced lingual protuberance and a deep
nutrient grove. The lateral teeth are more blade like and the root
compressed with a reduced lingual protuberance and nutrient
groove. The cusplets on anterior teeth may or may not be present, when
present are usually reduced in nature. On lateral teeth the cusplets
have a triangular shape and there may be a smaller secondary set of
cusplets. The teeth range in size from 3/4 to 2 inches in length.
2 Anterior, 2 Lateral and one posterior tooth of the
goblin shark.
Upper anterior S. texanus
Anterior
Lingual view of S. texanus lateral teeth.
On laterals look for faint striations near the neck of the crown and
on the root.
I normally use some of my best specimens as examples in this website,
whenever possible
Scapanorhynchus texanus riker mount.
Some of my nicer teeth
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