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THE SHARKS |
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Angle Shark Age - Cretaceous Commonality - Uncommon? Squatina hassei lived during the late Cretaceous period and is the only species of angel shark found in the New Jersey area. The teeth of Squatina hassei are small, usually under ¼ of an inch in length. As with all of the smaller teeth it is difficult to determine their commonality, since most of these teeth will fall through a standard ¼ inch mesh screen. The teeth of the angel shark are very distinctive. The root makes up the bulk of the tooth, and there is a pronounced apron on the labial face that extends below the basal margin of the root. The crown has a triangular shape with steeply sloping enameloid shoulders. There is little difference in tooth form between the anterior and lateral teeth, the laterals having lower crowns and wider, more linear roots.
Labial view of Squatina hassei, this tooth is a
little under 1/4 inch in length.
A side view of the same tooth showing the large root
Lateral or posterior Squatina hassei.
The vertebrae of the angle shark has calcified
cartilage on the |
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