Extinct Sand Tiger
Hypotodus verticalis (AGASSIZ, 1843)
aka Carcharias hopei

 Age - Eocene  Commonality - Uncommon

The teeth of the Hypotodus verticalis have a smooth crown with noteworthy differences between the upper and lower teet.  The upper teeth have a single primary cusp-directed cusplet on each shoulder and a relatively straight crown when viewed on profile. The lowers which differ significantly having  a unique “triangular” look to them with a strong lingual protuberance and grove. The upper laterals are compressed with broad cusplets, these teeth may easily be confused with Carcharias cuspidata and the upper laterals with Striatolamia macrota.

Hypotodus verticalis lower lateral

Monmouth County, NJ.
 

Hypotodus verticalis upper anterior.
3 cm or about 1 1/4 inches is one of my
largest teeth.
 

H. verticalis upper lateral?
Very similar to Striatolamia macrota laterals that lack striations.
I'm using the broad pointed cusplets to identify H. verticalis.
 

A good example of the cusp-directed cusplets found on the
upper anterior teeth.

 

Left: - Lower lateral, upper lateral
Right - close up of cusp-directed cusplets

 

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