The Extinct Thresher
Paranomotodon angustidens (Cope)

Age - Cretaceous  Commonality - Common

 Fossil records of Paranomotodon angustidens are confined to the Cretaceous sediments and sees a worldwide distribution. The teeth of P. angustidens are on the small side, averaging about ˝ inch and can be fairly common in some locations. The root has a “U” shape appearance with a short nutrient groove. A very distinct feature of Paranomotodon angustidens is the concave basal root margin seen on the labial side of the tooth. The shoulders of the crown have a block like appearance which I have seen described as “weak lateral cusplets” or “vestigial cusplets”.  The crown is erect on anterior teeth and distally curved on laterals.
 


 

Paranomotodon angustidens

The teeth of Paranomotodon angustidens average about 1/2 inch when
measured  on the diagonal.
There is short deep nutrient grove which is very prone to stream wear.

Monmouth County, NJ
 


 

Lateral tooth.
A distinct characteristic of P. angustidens is the
concave basal root margin.


 



Anterior tooth with block like shoulders.

 


 

The short nutrient groove on an anterior tooth.
The roots of these teeth seem especially prone to stream wear and
the nutrient grove may not be present on some stream worn specimens.


 

P. angustidens


One of the nicest P. angustidens teeth in my collection.

Monmouth County, NJ
 


 

Typical Paranomotodon angustidens finds.
 

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