Hybodonts
The hybodonts are an ancient lineage of sharks that survived all the way into the Cretaceous and still possessed a more ancestral tooth morphology. The root is fragile and porous, and therefore is almost never preserved. The cusplets are only present on some positions of Hybodus, and are prone to breaking off due to being located a distance from the crown. The hybodonts are also known for their cephalic (head) claspers used in mating and their long fin spines that are also sometimes found. We also find Lonchidion babulskii teeth, but they are extremely small, only measuring ~5mm on the larger end.
Size: .5-1.5 cm (1/4-3/4 inch)
Age: Late Cretaceous
Hybodus sp. Lateral
The lateral (side) teeth of hybodonts were a transition between the anterior (front) piercing teeth and the posterior (rear) crushing teeth. These teeth are uncommon. (Scale = 1cm)
Lonchidion babulskii teeth
These teeth are rarely found due to their miniscule size. They range from flattened crowns to rounded. Pictured first is one particularly remarkable specimen in that it still has its extremely fragile root. (Scale = 5mm)
