FOSSILS OF NEW JERSEY |
Hybodont shark Age - Cretaceous Commonality - Uncommon Most of the
Meristodonoides teeth we encounter in the Cretaceous streams of New
Jersey are in all probability that of
M. novojerseyensis (Case
and Cappetta, 2004). I still have some work to do in this area so for
the present will simply refer to this tooth design
as Meristodonoides sp. The Hybodont sharks have
retained a porous primitive root structure that does not fossilize,
specimens with complete roots are rare.
The teeth have a
triangular central cusp that is
rather broad at the base with a weak but complete cutting edge. In
addition to the teeth, dorsal fin spines and
cephalic claspers can also be found. The claspers, which are only
present on the male was used to hold the female during mating. A typical stream worn Meristodonoides sp.
On profile showing the cutting edge.
A group of stream worn teeth, these teeth average
about 1/4 of an inch
Link to Hybodus nonojerseyensis
Along with the teeth,
cephalic claspers can also be found.
Plate 40 from Geology and Mineralogy Considered with
Reference
¹ CASE, G.R. & CAPPETTA, H. (2004)
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