SkaTES, RAYS and FISH

 

EXTINCT SAWFISH
Ptychotrygon vermiculata (Cappetta )

Age  Cretaceous - Occurrence  Very common?
 

The teeth of the extinct sawfish are small, averaging between 2 – 6 mm in width. Because of their size it is difficult to accurately determine their commonality. Based on the number I have recovered, and there has to be a lot that I’ve missed, I believe these to be very common. The teeth have a moderately strong transverse crest accompanied by two additional transverse ridges on the labial face and another, high on the lingual face. The roots are less than half the height of the crown, with each root lobe being triangular in shape when viewed from the bottom with a strong nutrient groove.

 Note: there are no rostral teeth attributed to the genus Ptychotrygon.

The teeth of extinct sawfish, Ptychotrygon vermiculata  are small,
 averaging between 2 to 6 mm across
Monmouth County, NJ
 

A distinct characteristic of Ptychotrygon vermiculata are the additional
transverse ridges on the labial side of the tooth (left arrow).
Between these ridges small enamel bumps may be present.

 

Two specimens showing the triangular root lobe and strong nutrient grove.
 

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