Family

Dentition types and main features of collected specimens

Occurence

ODONTASPIDIDAE

(Sand sharks)

Tearing type; large dagger-shaped teeth, long and tapering, often with two small, sharp denticles next to the main crown; small and strong tapering in Odontaspis. The crown is smooth, the root is short with spaced lobes in Brachycarcharias, or long and close together to Carcharias.

Frequent

MITSUKURINIDAE

(Goblin sharks)

Tearing type; small unsymmetrical teeth, thrown towards the commissure with a blunted apex; wide and low denticles; root large and relatively flat with a deep groove (Striatolamia).

Uncommon

OTODONTIDAE

(Megatoothed sharks)

Cutting type; Teeth large robust with unsserrated triangular crown, smooth cutting edges and roughly triangular side cusps (Otodus). Cretolamna teeth have a compressed root which has a rectangular looking shape. The main cusp is broad and there are two stocky triangular shaped cusplets.

Rare

LAMNIDAE

(Mackerel sharks)

Cutting type; Teeth slack cusplets and have thick, but mesio-distally compressed, roots with nearly vertical lateral margins and a straight cusp. The lingual protuberance bears an elliptical foramen (Isurolamna).

Uncommon

CARCHARHINIDAE

(Requim sharks)

Cutting-Clutching type; teeth are generally small, inclined to a sharp notch between the posterior dentil and the rest of the crown (Adounia). In general, the crown is blade-like and distally directed. The mesial cutting-edge continues on to the shoulder and bears weak serrations and can be strongly serrate with up to four cusplet-like serrations (Physogaleus).

Frequent

JAEKELOTODONTIDAE

Tearing type, Mennerotodus teeth have a fine and high main cusp and lateral cuspids that are not well developed. They are distinguished by the presence of fine crenulations between the crown and the lateral denticles.

Rare

TRIAKIDAE (hound sharks)

Clutching-crushing type: Small ring of teeth flat main cusp highly developed and curved. The denticles decreasing from top to bottom edge (Galeorhinus). The Mustelus teeth are characterised by a crushing type dentition. They are slightly asymmetrical and transversely elongated, with a reduced, distally directed cusp. The crown is as high as the root.

Common

SCYLIORHINIDAE (Cat sharks)

Type Clutching/Tearing; Teeth laterally spread; the outer face is slightly convex. Pairs of lateral denticles (Scyliorhinus) flank the wide cusp, sharp and angled towards the corner.

Rare

SQUATINIDAE (Shark Angels)

Crushing type; small triangular tooth, its root behind rejects the crown angles. The base of the root has a rhombic shape (Squatina).

Rare

HETERODONTIDAE (bullhead sharks)

Clutching-grinding type: flat teeth and stretched, without sharp cusps. The labial face of the crown extends over the splayed root lobes and the apron may bear ornamentation (Heterodontus).

Uncommon

GINGLYMOSTOMAT1DAE (Nurse sharks)

Clutching type: teeth generally small, the number of denticles can multiply gradually and laterally. (Nebrius). Delpitoscyllium Teeth are longer than broad with a triangular cusp and a pair of divergent lateral cusplets. The cusplets develop low on the crown face but project relatively high. Occlusally, the Burnhamia teeth are hexagonal in shape and are arranged in a pavement-like fashion.

Frequent

HEMISCYLLIIDAE

(Bamboo sharks)

Clutching type; The teeth have a main tip cusp narrowly triangular and two small lateral tips similar in each side and have broad-based (Hemiscyllium).

Uncommon

ORECTOLOBIDAE

(Wobbegong sharks)

Clutching type, Teeth fairly compressed laterally to high cusp, pointed, inclined inwards. The outer face of the crown is quite convex. The inner medial protuberance is well developed, long and rather slender at its end. The root is tall, squat, flat basal face in profile, but concave anteriorly in labial view (Squtiscyllium).

Uncommon

MYLIOBATIDAE (Eagle rays)

Crushing type; Online teeth, dentition plates or real millstones. Palace mills high crown of polygonal contour. The indented portion is the root of the tooth, the thin crown, is a smooth portion and hard (Myliobatis).

Rare

DASYATIDAE (Whiptail stingrays)

Grinder type: tiny teeth about 2 mm, ornate. The forms found are loops. The root is higher in profile (Dasyatis).

Uncommon

MOBULIDAE

(Mantarays, Devilrays)

Cutting-Clutching type; Teeth Archaeomanta are easily recognized by their peg-like design and bulbous root. Unlike the living manta ray, the crown rises directly from the root, bears a median ridge and is fully covered with enameloid.

Rare

RAJEDAE (skates fish)

Crushing type, teeth usually small shaped like inverted trumpets. The anterior and lateral have a cusp more or less elongated (Raja).

Rare

PRISTIDAE

(Sawfish)

Rostral “teeth” (referred herein as spines). The tooth is longer than broad, the crown is globular & rounded, has a transverse crest. In general, elongated rostral spines with sharp or smoothly rounded posterior edges tend to be channeled ones (Pristis).

Rare