One central cusp with several smaller lateral cusps arranged on a broad base.
Hybodus is a broad historical genus and many specimens have been reassigned; this result may be lineage-level only.
01
IDENTIFICATION TRAITS
What to inspect.
- Crown shape
- Several cusps
- Cutting edge
- Smooth edge
- Side cusplets
- Several smaller cusps
- Root
- Wide / nearly flat root
- Reference height
- roughly 5–35 mm, depending on age and jaw position
- Time
- Triassic–Cretaceous
02
WHY IT LOOKS THIS WAY
Form follows feeding.
Hybodont teeth vary with feeding role, but many show the classic symmetrical multi-cusped crown.
03
LOOKALIKES
Do not stop at the first match.
LivingNurse sharkSmall tooth with a central cusp flanked by several smaller cusplets on a broad base.Compare profile →RELATED FORMCow sharksUse locality, age and associated teeth to separate this lookalike. RELATED FORMOther hybodontsUse locality, age and associated teeth to separate this lookalike.
PRIMARY / AUTHORITATIVE REFERENCE
Open source ↗Natural History Museum
Use the source alongside collection locality and geologic age. A photograph alone cannot establish provenance.
HAVE A TOOTH TO CHECK?
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