Anomoeodus phaseolus (Hay)

Age  Cretaceous - Occurrence  Very Common
 

Anomoeodus phaseolus was a species of Pycnodontid fish known for their cobblestone-like teeth well adapted for crushing. The fossil record of this species is limited to isolated teeth and an occasional mouth plate.  The teeth were replaced by new ones as they became worn helping to account for the large number found in our area. These are easy to identify, they look like beans with the backside hollowed out and are usually in the ¼ inch to 1 inch range.  The lateral teeth are smaller and have a rounder shape and are found less often. A. phaseolus is sometimes erroneously referred to as a drum fish.

Scale 10mm = .394 in

Left -  medial tooth
Right - later tooth
occlusal, profile and basal views.

A rare example of a complete mouth plate.
MAPS collection - Ralph Johnson curator

Black is the predominate color in Monmouth County, NJ,
although some color variations do show up.
 

Teeth with part of the boney mouth plate still attached.
scale in inches.
 

Riker mount of A. phaseolus teeth
 

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