GUITARFISH
Rhinobatos casieri (Herman)

Age  Cretaceous - Occurrence  Uncommon

( Common terms for ray teeth )

The teeth of Rhinobatos casieri, also known as the Guitarfish are small, averaging a little less than 2mm wide and require the use of a fine meshed screen for collection. The distinctive exaggerated central uvula makes identification possible even if the root is completely missing (very often the case). Crown smooth with single transverse ridge. The root is large with a deep nutrient grove, when viewed on profile angles towards the lingual side of the tooth. There are a pair of foramina on the lingual face of the root and a single large central foramen in the grove on the bottom.      

The teeth of Rhinobatos casieri are small, under 2mm
at the widest point. A fine mesh screen is a definite must for these little
guys.
 

Plate 1

Root damage is common with this species. In roughly half the
the specimens I collect the root is completely missing.

In-vivo wear on the crown can completely obscure the transverse ridge.
The tooth on the left shows almost no wear. The tooth on right shows
significant wear.

Rhinobatos casieri profile view
 

 Rhinobatos casieri

Using a US dime for scale shows just how small these teeth are.
 

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