The strongest separator is the cutting edge. Confirm it against the root and jaw-position notes before naming an isolated tooth.
Large smooth-edged triangular lamniform tooth with a substantial bilobed root.
Compressed, triangular to oblique blade with strong serrations and a compact two-lobed root.
Broad triangle / Narrow dagger
Hooked blade / Broad triangle
Smooth edge
Coarse serrations
No side cusplets
No side cusplets
Deep V-shaped root / Two distinct root lobes
Two distinct root lobes / Wide / nearly flat root
18–65 mm reference range
10–42 mm reference range
Tall smooth anterior teeth transition to broader smooth laterals.
Front teeth are more erect; laterals become strongly oblique.
Late Cretaceous epicontinental and offshore seas.
Late Cretaceous coastal and open marine waters.
Large fishes and marine reptiles inferred from associated evidence.
Fishes, marine reptiles and carrion inferred from teeth and bite traces.
Commonly reconstructed around 6–7 m (20–23 ft), with model uncertainty.
Many species were roughly 2–5 m (6.5–16 ft); estimates vary by species.
Not directly measurable.
Not directly measurable.
Late Cretaceous teeth and occasional associated skeletons are known.
Common Late Cretaceous teeth on multiple continents.
Geologic age and collection locality are important for separating it from broad-toothed mako teeth.
Local rock age is often more diagnostic than the outline alone because similar tooth shapes evolved repeatedly.
Illustrations are original TuffShark diagrams, not photographs taken from either reference.
KEEP COMPARING